INSAS Excalibur & MCIWS Ghatak Assault Rifles to Replace Indian Army's Standard Issue INSAS Rifles

[GURU DUTT]

I can smell another blunder in the making bad move they should test other guns before deciding .

well if thats a blunder on MOD & indian armies side bieng a citizen of indias enemy state with whome we had fought 4 wars you should be happy about it ... i cant understand your logic here sir .... are you afraid of new indian rifels

 

[acetophenol]

Did it incoporated Automatic mode as well ?
Still its good decision to replace 1B1 with Excaliber with reduced wieght and barrel length, is bit better option.

No,it didn't have automatic mode.

 

[Sneaker]

The guns that are picked up from terrorists are destroyed they are never issued to anyone ever.

This is not correct. There was news how these weapons were distributed to MPs (and found their way back to terrorists in some instances)

 

[forcetrip]

IA's move to obtain a modular (subsuming multi-calibre into modular for simplicity) AR highlights its experiences of CT operations in Kashmir since multi-cals' could 'optimize' the infantry firearm kit depending on the situation since the same units may be tasked with varying assignments in different geographical settings.

Indeed modularity obviously also allows barrels of different lengths to be used thereby allowing soldiers to customize their rifles for environments ranging from close quarter battle to long range shooting in open terrain. At the moment long range shooting in say a desert like environment is mostly the preserve of snipers and 'designated marksmen' armed with rifles firing high power 7.62 mm rounds either of NATO or Eastern Bloc standard. Of course, 50 calibre rifles have also proliferated in recent times.

This need to an extent has grown out of the experiences of NATO 'special forces' operators in the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan wherein the standard 5.56 x 45 mm round was found to have inadequate 'stopping power' against determined insurgents in various scenarios. Equipped with carbine derivatives of NATO AR families which fire the 5.56 mm round optimized for accuracy at short ranges and full auto mode fire, these operators often found themselves at a disadvantage vis a vis insurgents firing heavier 7.62 x 39 mm AKM rounds (albeit not that accurately) from further away.

(This is somewhat counter to the dominant thinking of the past forty years wherein studies showed that maximum kill ratios were achieved through the use of a greater number of bullets in combat rather than accuracy at range or stopping power)
.

Special forces operators could fumble around with interoperability because of high level of training, better gear, high levels of perception, small squad, difficulty in getting reinforcements, inadequate supplies and foremost operating behind enemy lines. When it comes to a main stay battle rifle for armed forces these requirements are in my personal opinion useless and counter productive. One rifle to do one task and as easy to maintain and operate should be the goal. If you face difficult terrain or have to contact long range or close quarter enemies? Bring another rifle.

 

[VeeraBahadur]

well if thats a blunder on MOD & indian armies side bieng a citizen of indias enemy state with whome we had fought 4 wars you should be happy about it ... i cant understand your logic here sir .... are you afraid of new indian rifels

He is just butt hurt at the instance of India saving her foreign currency exchequer and at same time promoting the habit for IA to choose from Indian made systems.

Special forces operators could fumble around with interoperability because of high level of training, better gear, high levels of perception, small squad, difficulty in getting reinforcements, inadequate supplies and foremost operating behind enemy lines. When it comes to a main stay battle rifle for armed forces these requirements are in my personal opinion useless and counter productive. One rifle to do one task and as easy to maintain and operate should be the goal. If you face difficult terrain or have to contact long range or close quarter enemies? Bring another rifle.

This is only the main problem , they don't want to carry two guns.

 

[kaonalpha]

Pakistan is quite satisfied with G3 I don't think there are any plans to start replacing it in near future @Icarus @balixd @kaonalpha

Yes you will be seeing modified versions of G3 and is preferred by all troops of pakistan army. Airforce officers say the FN-2000 suits them best and navy prefer Styer AUG-NG.

 

[GURU DUTT]

He is just butt hurt at the instance of India saving her foreign currency exchequer and at same time promoting the habit for IA to choose from Indian made systems.

i know that bro was taking "mulla ji se chaske"

infact Excalibur is a great system its light , compact and durable and quite easy to clean and menatin even in a warzone but what we need now is a good single calibur bull pup type rifle with high muzzle velocity and rate of fire a good range 450 metres + which is quite dependable and easy to clean and menatin with piccatenni rails on 12',3,6 & 9'o clock positions

all this multi cal hokus phokus is just ways of milking the taxpayer what an army wich always in some saught of warzone we need a single calibur ammo which can be used in assault rifles and MGs with ease that is light yet has edequate stopping power and accuracy much like what US army does with its M14s assault rifels and SAW MGs which will tactically help a squad of soldiers very much in a war zone deu to comminality of ammo

 

[IND151]

Army zeroes in on Made in India rifles to replace INSAS | idrw.org

This news has been in discussion in other forums like defencceforumindia for sometime. What I understand is that, the Multi-Cal rifle Army wants is splitted into two- InIndigenous MCWS for bulk issue and foreign issue for special issue.

And this will take several years to be complete. In the meantime Army is looking for Excalibur as an immediate replacement/complement to the INSAS,which serve us in case the Multi-Cal rifle is delayed further or if the Multi-Cal rifle faces any issue once in service.

This must be the case.

Ordering sophisticated foreign made rifles for all infrantry is cost prohibitive.

 

[Koovie]

RIFLE EXCALIBUR 5.56 MM

Derived from the famous INSAS weapon systems of India which have been tested in large scale infantry combat, anti-terrorist and mob control situations, this weapon is called the INSAS EXCALIBUR MARK-I incorporates, in addition to the features of earlier INSAS Weapons, certain characteristics which makes it truly the ultimate sword- �THE EXCALIBUR�. The reasons for calling it Excalibur are that it incorporates the features of a weapon which is rugged for battlefield engagements and at the same time capable of being light and easy to handle during low intensity conflict and CQB situations. It has ergonomically designed with folding butt and can fire 20-30 rounds magazines. It is also fitted with picaatinny rails for mounting of opto electronic devices.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Calibre

5.56mm

Length-Butt Folded/Butt Extended

665mm/895mm

Weight without Magazine

3.81 kg.

Weight with Full Magazine

4.03 kg

Weight of Empty Magazine

0.09 kg.

Magazine Capacity

20/30 rounds

Length of Barrel

400 mm

Barrel Chamber and Bore

Chrome Plated

Rifling (No. of Grooves/Twist/Direction)

6/1 turn in 200 /RH

Sight ( Front /Rear/ Range Graduation/Radius)

Post type/aperture/200 mm & 400mm/475mm

System of Operation

Gas operated

Mode of Fire

i). Single Shot ii) Automatic

Rate of Fire ( rounds/min)

650 to 700

Effective range

400 m

Those are the old specs... They must have changed several things. Its weight was one issue, +4 kg for a carbine are pretty heavy

 

[The_Sidewinder]

Those are the old specs... They must have changed several things. Its weight was one issue, +4 kg for a carbine are pretty heavy

I hope Excalibur has significant advantages over INSAS. Otherwise whats the point of inducting a gun which will need replacing in a few years time.

Those are the old specs... They must have changed several things. Its weight was one issue, +4 kg for a carbine are pretty heavy

I hope Excalibur has significant advantages over INSAS. Otherwise whats the point of inducting a gun which will need replacing in a few years time.

 

[Heinz Guderian]

I wanted to know when these inhouse trials are slated to end? After inhouse it goes to user trials. What are the different type of short strokes available and what is being used? It is not preferred to be over adventurous and go into multi caliber barrels as a go to rifle for the military. Simple is usually the way to go.

All the futuristic rifles that meant to replace current INSAS are failed to meet GSQR, and ultimately Indian Army scrapped it.
The Excalibur is already ,matured enough.
The only best option is start arming the CAPF soldier with Excalibur, and wait for MCIWS for trials, which best start by end of 2015 or 2016, and let him mature.

Procuring a foreign rifle for whole Armed forces is cost prohibitive and futile.

The JVPC is already undergoing in trials, and definitely it will be procured by Special Forces and CAPF in large number.

 

[Koovie]

I hope Excalibur has significant advantages over INSAS. Otherwise whats the point of inducting a gun which will need replacing in a few years time.

Its definitely is more suitable than the standard INSAS. But I also think that it wont take long until it gets replaced again.

 

[Heinz Guderian]

Its definitely is more suitable than the standard INSAS. But I also think that it wont take long until it gets replaced again.

Excalibur wont be replaced in future by MCIWS in CAPF.

Excalibur,JVPC future is already written.

 

[forcetrip]

This is only the main problem , they don't want to carry two guns.

And they shouldn't. That is where operations planning is done when main forces are put to task once the work of recon and special force units is complete. I am sure they can decide what engagement ranges are to be considered. South Asia does not have a man power problem, it has a corruption and technology implementation problem.

 

[Zarvan]

Made in India rifle to replace INSAS: Modified Excalibur currently undergoing trials to meet Army requirements

by Sandeep Unnithan

The Indian Army has decided to go for an indigenous assault rifle to replace the problematic INSAS rifles. The decision that could save thousands of crores in foreign exchange and boost local manufacture was taken recently by Army Chief General Dalbir Singh.

The Army then cancelled a problematic Rs 4,848 crore order for importing Multi Caliber Assault Rifles on June 15 — first reported by Mail Today on July 1.

“We are going in for a designed and Made in India rifle in keeping with the government’s indigenization thrusts,” senior Army sources told Mail Today.

The performance of the DRDO-designed ‘Excalibur’ assault rifle in trials last month at the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune has further enthused the Army.

The Excalibur had only two stoppages (where the bullet gets stuck in the breech) after 24,000 rounds were fired, close to the Army’s specifications of only one stoppage.

New features

The Excalibur is an improved version of the INSAS rifle and fires 5.56x45 mm ammunition. It has full-automatic capability over the INSAS which can only fire a three-round burst. The Excalibur barrel is shorter by 4 mm, has a side folding butt stock and features a Picatinny rail, a universal mount that allows a range of weapon sights and sensors to be fitted on the rifle.

DRDO officials say it will take the OFB’s Rifle Factory Ishapore at least eight months to incorporate design changes suggested by the ARDE and field the first prototypes of what they are calling the ‘Modified INSAS Rifle’ (MIR).

Changes suggested after trials include a smaller handguard and improved polycarbonate magazine.

If the Excalibur/MIR clears trials, it could be in the hands of infantry soldiers within two years, DRDO officials say. The DRDO is designing a second version of the Excalibur, the AR-2 that fires 7.62x39 mm rounds used by AK-47. The AR-2 will be offered as an alternative to the Russian-origin assault rifle.

The Army’s 2011 tender was for a Multi Caliber Assault Rifle or for a weapon that could fire INSAS and AK-47 ammunition with a barrel change.

Five international firms— Beretta of Italy, Israeli Weapons Industries (IWI), Colt Defense of the U.S., Ceska Zbplojovka of Czech Republic and SiG Sauer of Switzerland—were shortlisted for the trials.

However, Army officials now admit the specifications were poorly drafted and unrealistic.

Source>>