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Indian ‘AK-47′ too fast for its own good
Even as soldiers in combat zones insist on carrying AK-47s instead of the indigenous INSAS rifles, a home-made AK-like weapon has finally appealed to the paramilitary forces. However, the Indian rifle, originally designed to fire faster than the Russian Kalashnikov itself, may have to slow down a bit, just to ensure smooth shooting. This process may delay its introduction by 7-8 months.
Called the Trichy Assault Rifle (TAR), the gun is being developed at the Tiruchirapalli Ordnance Factory in Tamil Nadu. The faster firing capacity was the USP for the Indian AK. It could fire 800 bullets in a minute as against 600 from the Russian rifle.
However, this speed has also led to a hitch, which was noticed during trials held recently. There were stoppages during firing at times. Rectifying the error will lead to a lower firing rate, even though the Indian version is expected to remain ahead of the original Kalashnikov, firing close to 650 rounds a minutes.
Ironically, the gun’s developers are not worried about the changes as such, but the time required in the process.
Special permission to make 120 new TARs, with the issue resolved, has been obtained from the ‘AK-47′(OFB). But it may not take less than 7-8 months to finish the job. The delay will be more procedural than technical, say sources.
Making certain parts will need outsourcing of raw materials. Being a government organization, the entire process of issuing tenders, evaluating bids and getting final approval will have to be followed. This will consume most of the time in coming up with the new rifle.
Trials were conducted by representatives of various forces like ITBP, BSF, CRPF and Seema Suraksha Bal. Officials of one of the paramilitary forces evaluating the rifle insisted on early modification, so that a decision is taken on acquiring the indigenous weapon. “There are chances that they may have to go for imports if the rectified version is not put up soon,” a source said.
As far as the stoppages are concerned, they are said to be because of a simple mechanical reason say sources in the developing agency. To increase the rate of fire, the travel time for the bullet to leave the barrel was reduced. However, it was seen during rapid firing sessions that at times the subsequent bullet would reach the point where the empty cartridge of the first shot was yet to be ejected. A narrow ejection window also added to the problem, leading to the jamming.
One does not encounter such a problem in the original AK-47 even when the bullets are fired rapidly, because enough time gap is ensured between the travel of two bullets and throwing out of the empty cartridge. Similar changes will have to be made in the Indian gun too. The travel time will be increased so that there is a gap between two rounds and diameter of the ejection window will also be increased.
Such jamming is not a frequent problem, but will have to be solved. This will reduce the rate of fire to 650 rounds a minute, sources said.
The developers call it a new rifle altogether, as the mechanism which pushes the bullet is different from the AK-47 developed by Russia’s Mikhail Kalashnikov. In fact, ordnance factory had developed a rifle similar to AK-47, but Kalashnikov himself had raised copyright objections.
So, a new rifle, which pushes the bullet through a tilting breach block rather than a rotating system like in the Russian version, was developed. It hoped to do away with the copyright hassles, sources said. The gun was developed based on feedback from troops in paramilitary forces, including those in Naxal-hit areas, who preferred an AK-like weapon instead of the INSAS.
Army prefers multi-barrel rifles
The ordnance factory is targeting paramilitary forces to sell the rifle rather than the army, since the latter is already going ahead with the purchase of multi-calibre rifles. The army is scouting the international market to buy rifles with interchangeable barrels of different calibres, like 7.52, 5.56 and 6.68mm. Talks are underway with US’ Colt, Baretta from Italy and Israeli Military Industry (IMI). The ordnance factory is not in the fray for multi-barrel rifles so far. Experts also believe it would not be practical for a soldier to use such a weapon. Moreover, after initial procurement there are chances that subsequent batches of the multi-barrel rifles may be made in India itself, a source said.
Even as soldiers in combat zones insist on carrying AK-47s instead of the indigenous INSAS rifles, a home-made AK-like weapon has finally appealed to the paramilitary forces. However, the Indian rifle, originally designed to fire faster than the Russian Kalashnikov itself, may have to slow down a bit, just to ensure smooth shooting. This process may delay its introduction by 7-8 months.
Called the Trichy Assault Rifle (TAR), the gun is being developed at the Tiruchirapalli Ordnance Factory in Tamil Nadu. The faster firing capacity was the USP for the Indian AK. It could fire 800 bullets in a minute as against 600 from the Russian rifle.
However, this speed has also led to a hitch, which was noticed during trials held recently. There were stoppages during firing at times. Rectifying the error will lead to a lower firing rate, even though the Indian version is expected to remain ahead of the original Kalashnikov, firing close to 650 rounds a minutes.
Ironically, the gun’s developers are not worried about the changes as such, but the time required in the process.
Special permission to make 120 new TARs, with the issue resolved, has been obtained from the ‘AK-47′(OFB). But it may not take less than 7-8 months to finish the job. The delay will be more procedural than technical, say sources.
Making certain parts will need outsourcing of raw materials. Being a government organization, the entire process of issuing tenders, evaluating bids and getting final approval will have to be followed. This will consume most of the time in coming up with the new rifle.
Trials were conducted by representatives of various forces like ITBP, BSF, CRPF and Seema Suraksha Bal. Officials of one of the paramilitary forces evaluating the rifle insisted on early modification, so that a decision is taken on acquiring the indigenous weapon. “There are chances that they may have to go for imports if the rectified version is not put up soon,” a source said.
As far as the stoppages are concerned, they are said to be because of a simple mechanical reason say sources in the developing agency. To increase the rate of fire, the travel time for the bullet to leave the barrel was reduced. However, it was seen during rapid firing sessions that at times the subsequent bullet would reach the point where the empty cartridge of the first shot was yet to be ejected. A narrow ejection window also added to the problem, leading to the jamming.
One does not encounter such a problem in the original AK-47 even when the bullets are fired rapidly, because enough time gap is ensured between the travel of two bullets and throwing out of the empty cartridge. Similar changes will have to be made in the Indian gun too. The travel time will be increased so that there is a gap between two rounds and diameter of the ejection window will also be increased.
Such jamming is not a frequent problem, but will have to be solved. This will reduce the rate of fire to 650 rounds a minute, sources said.
The developers call it a new rifle altogether, as the mechanism which pushes the bullet is different from the AK-47 developed by Russia’s Mikhail Kalashnikov. In fact, ordnance factory had developed a rifle similar to AK-47, but Kalashnikov himself had raised copyright objections.
So, a new rifle, which pushes the bullet through a tilting breach block rather than a rotating system like in the Russian version, was developed. It hoped to do away with the copyright hassles, sources said. The gun was developed based on feedback from troops in paramilitary forces, including those in Naxal-hit areas, who preferred an AK-like weapon instead of the INSAS.
Army prefers multi-barrel rifles
The ordnance factory is targeting paramilitary forces to sell the rifle rather than the army, since the latter is already going ahead with the purchase of multi-calibre rifles. The army is scouting the international market to buy rifles with interchangeable barrels of different calibres, like 7.52, 5.56 and 6.68mm. Talks are underway with US’ Colt, Baretta from Italy and Israeli Military Industry (IMI). The ordnance factory is not in the fray for multi-barrel rifles so far. Experts also believe it would not be practical for a soldier to use such a weapon. Moreover, after initial procurement there are chances that subsequent batches of the multi-barrel rifles may be made in India itself, a source said.
