INSAS Light machine gun

[Zarvan]

The INSAS LMG was developed alongside assault rife and shares the same basic design



Country of origin India
Entered service 1998
Caliber 5.56x45 mm NATO
Weight (without magazine) 6.23 kg
Weight (with loaded magazine) 6.73 kg
Length 1 050 mm
Length (with folded stock) 890 mm
Barrel length 535 mm
Muzzle velocity 925 m/s
Muzzle energy 1 780 J
Cyclic rate of fire 650 rpm
Practical rate of fire 40 - 120 rpm
Magazine capacity 30 rounds
Sighting range 1 000 m
Range of effective fire 700 m


The INSAS (INdian Small Arms System) is a family of infantry arms, including assault rifle and Light Machine Gun (LMG). Both of these weapons share the same basic design. A carbine was also planned, but eventually was not adopted. Development of the INSAS family reportedly commenced in India in the mid 1980s. Both assault rifle and light machine gun were adopted by the Indian armed forces in 1998. The INSAS LMG was adopted as a standard squad-level support automatic weapon. To this day it is used by the Indian armed forces, even though India MoD is looking for its replacement. It is possible that this light machine gun was exported to some countries. This weapon saw action during Kargil War (1999) and the ongoing Naxalite-Maoist insurgency in India.

The INSAS light machine gun is based on the Soviet RPK , but has a number of features from other successful designs, such as the FN FAL (gas system), HK33 (charging handle), Steyr AUG(magazine), and Galil (buttstock). It has the same basic design as the INSAS assault rifle, but comes with a longer heavy barrel, bipod, and "full-auto" firing mode. Also this weapon has a different foregrip. A number of parts are interchangeable between the INSAS light machine gun and assault rifle.

This light machine gun is a gas operated weapon. It is chambered for a standard NATO 5.56x45 mm (.223 Remington) ammunition, opposed to Soviet 5.56x39 mm or 7.62x39 mm ammunition. Originally the INSAS weapon family was planned to be adopted in 1994. However the introduction was delayed due to design flaws and the lack of 5.56x45 mm ammunition in India. Eventually ammunition was obtained in large quantity from Israel. Otherwise the INSAS was produced without reliance on foreign components.

This weapon is capable of semi-auto and full-auto firing modes. Fire mode selector is located on the left side, above the pistol grip.

The INSAS light machine gun is fed from 30-round capacity magazines. It is also compatible with 20-round capacity magazines, developed for INSAS assault rifle. Magazines are transparent. This handy feature was borrowed from the Austrian Steyr AUG. It allows to see the number rounds left, without removing the magazine from the weapon. Magazines are designed to the M16 standard. However it appeared that these magazines tend to crack due to cold weather and can not withstand battlefield abuse.

This fire support weapon has built-in iron sights with a sighting range of up to 1 000 m. There is a mounting point for telescopic or night sights. The INSAS LMG It has an effective range of 700 m against area targets.

The baseline LMG has a solid stock. There is also a version of the INSAS LMG with a side-folding metal stock. This version is mainly intended for paratroopers and special forces. This fire support weapon has a built-in carrying handle.

However it appeared that this weapon has some reliability issues. It tends to jam at high altitudes. Also its magazines crack due to cold weather and battlefield abuse. Also the Indian armed forces want a weapon with a longer range. So currently Indian armed forces are looking for a new weapon to replace the INSAS LMG.



Variants



INSAS LMG Mk.1 is a baseline version with a solid buttstock.

INSAS LMG Mk.1A is a version with a side-folding metal stock, similar to that of the IMI Galil, rather than that of the Soviet RPD. This weapon is intended for paratroopers and special forces. It has some minor differences, such as reshaped pistol grip.

http://www.military-today.com/firearms/insas_lmg.htm

 

[Water Car Engineer]

ARDE will be unveiling a new LMG soon.

 

[Nilgiri]

ARDE will be unveiling a new LMG soon.

Bro, I am interested to know how you rate the INSAS family overall.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Bro, I am interested to know how you rate the INSAS family overall.

Not an expert, but it's obviously time to move a head from the INSAS family.

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Bro, I am interested to know how you rate the INSAS family overall.

In the initial days there were complaints of jamming, I think those incidents came down later. But like @Water Car Engineer has said, time to move on to better designs.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Bro, I am interested to know how you rate the INSAS family overall.

The INSAS had teething issues (which rifle in modern times hasn't?) but these were addressed and the INSAS has been continuously devloped and now is a competent product but like with almost every other indegnious system the media has spoiled its image so much that the perception of it is very poor (but unfair).

ARDE will be unveiling a new LMG soon.

OFB have also begun producing the FN MMG as a GPMG for the infantry:

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

ARDE will be unveiling a new LMG soon.

Pic shows a M240 ..



@ topic .. It's just an automatic assault rifle..

The INSAS had teething issues (which rifle in modern times hasn't?) but these were addressed and the INSAS has been continuously devloped and now is a competent product but like with almost every other indegnious system the media has spoiled its image so much that the perception of it is very poor (but unfair).


OFB have also begun producing the FN MMG as a GPMG for the infantry:

Th pic is from the wiki.. Can you post a link?

Besides this Insas "lmg" which MG does india produce ? Bren..?

 

[Abingdonboy]

@ topic .. It's just an automatic assault rifle..

Nope, it has a heavier (and longer) barrel and some different internal mechanisms, It's like the L86 LSW (a derivative of the SA-80), based on an assualt rifle but specialised.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Nope, it has a heavier (and longer) barrel and some different internal mechanisms, It's like the L86 LSW (a derivative of the SA-80), based on an assualt rifle but specialised.

Yes its barrel length is longer than Insas .. But that and it being an automatic weapon is the only difference between the two.

Ironically L86 itself was criticised for being just that an automatic light support weapon .. Despite it have like 650-700+ RPM (far out performing Insas) and the capacity to use a 60 round mag.. It was never used as a light machine gun .. Rather a specialised rifle/like a DMR/individual rifle .. And FN Mini replaced it.

 

[Jamwal's]

Th pic is from the wiki.. Can you post a link?

The INSAS had teething issues (which rifle in modern times hasn't?) but these were addressed and the INSAS has been continuously devloped and now is a competent product but like with almost every other indegnious system the media has spoiled its image so much that the perception of it is very poor (but unfair).


OFB have also begun producing the FN MMG as a GPMG for the infantry:

GPMG variant called MAG 5A produced by IOF.

MMG variant

Also in service with British Gurkhas

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@Abingdonboy

Apart from Nagev,PKM and BREN as LMG/GPMG,at high altitude and forward Bunkers they prefer M2 Browning, 12.7 MM DSHK (captured one's),KPV and NSV etc


NEGEV

Bren

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

GPMG variant called MAG 5A produced by IOF.



View attachment 300494

MMG variant

View attachment 300498

View attachment 300504

Also in service with British Gurkhas

View attachment 300513

The Brits are using FN variants..

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@Abingdonboy

Apart from Nagev,PKM and BREN as LMG/GPMG,at high altitude and forward Bunkers they prefer M2 Browning, 12.7 MM DSHK (captured one's),KPV and NSV etc


NEGEV

Bren

View attachment 300505


View attachment 300510

In short .. It's bren (standard) for troops,NSV for tanks,nagev got your Marcos ? browsing seems to be much much limited (seen only 1 pic of it Indian service).. Never seen indian troops using PKMs though.


Meanwhile for Pak.

MG3 = standard infantry GM



Type series 14.7/DSHK for forward posts.

DSHK/MG/Type for vehicles

14.7 RCWs for Tanks

M2/FN Mag for helis

PKMs (captured) used by army also (and police),

Minimi/SAW for SF


NSVs/M2s were mostly phased out.

 

[Abingdonboy]

In short .. It's bren (standard) for troops,NSV for tanks,nagev got your Marcos ? browsing seems to be much much limited (seen only 1 pic of it Indian service).. Never seen indian troops using PKMs though.

-PKM is in limited used
- Garuds and MARCOs use the NEGEV (ARDE's LMG is said to be based on the NEGEV 7.62mm)
- Bren is stanfard for troops in COIN deployments

 

[zebra7]

1. · The INSAS LMG does not have rapidly changeable barrel. But on the other hand it is accurate enough to even allow a scope to be used with it. I think the fixed barrel is to increase the accuracy of the LMG. For instance, British Squad weapon 5.56 x 45 with fixed barrel can be used as a sniper rifle at around 400m to take out man sized targets. In any case, LMG are not supposed to be fired in auto for a length of time that the barrel would become too hot and would require to be changed. Even an LMG inspite of its heavier barrel/weight would start climbing off the target if the burst starts increasing beyond 3 rounds. So, if the LMG is being fired in proper manner then barrel change is not required. The absence of barrel change has been a feature of number of similar weapons.

2. LMG uses a 30 round mag instead of belt. This is also a matter of choice. The mag feed decreases the complexity of the gun and makes it more reliable. The requirement to change the mag gives the opportunity for the barrel to cool down. Mag feed has been a feature of a number of weapons. For instance, in Sierra Leone there were some complaints about dirt problem in GMAGs which were belt fed weapons. Mag change also allows the soldier some time to reacquire his own composure in the heat of battle and not fire off all his belted ammo.

3. To increase the effectiveness of the rifle/LMG, they are also been offered with scopes. It must be noted that with the introduction of new production plant for the ammo/rifle and cold swaging technique, INSAS is much more accurate then the old issue FN. Theoretically even though INSAS have a shorter range but effectively they can be used at a much longer range due to accuracy. FN power to a large extent goes waste.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Pic shows a M240 ..

No shit Sherlock. It's a placeholder image, that same internet grabbed image of a m240l is used on the description of an upgraded insas as well.

The new lmg is yet to be shown. Just know there will be a belt fed,7.62/51 lmg coming. Just like you saw MCIWS couple of years ago.

 

[Jamwal's]

The Brits are using FN variants..




browsing seems to be much much limited

Brownings are in service even before my father recruited in the 80s,still in limited service and forward LOC posts.At Dogra regt. centre (can't say about other REGT) troops are trained with it along with other MGs.

Capt Haneef Ud Din - Martyr Kargil war as a Recruit and M2 Browning.

NSV

In short .. It's bren (standard) for troops

Bren along with PKM and INSAS lMG.Troops in CT OPS (R R) Prefer the stopping power of 7.62 over 5.56.Para SF and RR with PKM.

Kargil

captured

Never seen indian troops using PKMs though.

Para SF also Uk vz. 59