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New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) The Indian Army will start inducting Close Quarter Battle (CQB) carbines into its ranks from 2026 following a major procurement contract.
The Rs 27,770 crore deal includes the procurement of 4.25 lakh CQB carbines to replace and modernize small arms in infantry units.
According to Director General of Infantry Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar, defense companies have been given strict timelines to complete the delivery.
Emphasizing the urgency behind the fast-track modernization drive, he said on Wednesday, “The companies will have to supply the entire consignment within two years.”
The contract, finalized last month, was signed between the Defense Ministry and two manufacturing entities: Bharat Forge – a unit of Kalyani Strategic Systems – and PLR Systems, a joint venture formed by the Adani Group and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI).
The order specifies the 5.56×45mm CQB carbine as standard issue for new purchases.
Under the terms of the agreement, Bharat Forge is responsible for supplying 60 percent of the total order, equivalent to 255,000 rifles, while PLR Systems will provide the remaining 40 percent, or 170,000 units.
The procurement is being presented as part of a broader effort towards self-reliance in defense production, combining indigenous manufacturing with strategic partnerships.
Notably, the DG Infantry said during an informal media interaction on Wednesday that “wars are not fought with borrowed weapons.”
Affirming that the Infantry remains the cutting edge of the Indian Army, Lieutenant General Kumar said the Army is undergoing a major transformation under the Decade of Transformation initiative, with a focus on modernisation, self-reliance and human resource excellence.
“The infantry of the future will be technologically advanced, modular and versatile – capable of fighting and winning in multi-domain environments,” the DG said.
Highlighting the lessons learned from Operation Sindoor, Lt Gen Kumar stressed the importance of precision, jointness and technology-driven warfare.
While talking about Operation Vermillion, he also talked about integration with advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets.
–IANS
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