New Delhi/Gwalior, March 28 (NationPress) Adani Defence & Aerospace, a prominent entity in India’s aerospace and defense sectors, has successfully delivered 2,000 indigenously produced 'Prahar' Light Machine Guns (LMGs) in 7.62 mm caliber to the Indian Army. This achievement signifies a vital advancement in the nation’s small arms manufacturing capabilities, announced on Saturday.

Moreover, the Gwalior facility is poised to produce close quarter battle (CQB) weapons for the Indian Armed Forces, further enhancing India’s indigenous small arms capabilities.

The first batch of LMGs was delivered within a remarkable seven-month timeframe, achieving completion 11 months ahead of the contract schedule.

The First-of-Production Model (FOPM) was developed in just six months, significantly shorter than the initial 18-month timeline. Following this, Bulk Production Clearance (BPC) was granted, facilitating a swift move to large-scale manufacturing.

The event was graced by A. Anbarasu, DG Acquisition & Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, alongside senior officials from the Indian Armed Forces.

Manufactured at Adani Defence’s Small Arms Facility in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, which is India’s first fully integrated private-sector small arms manufacturing center, the Prahar LMG greatly reduces dependence on imported infantry weapons, thereby bolstering national defense self-reliance.

Spanning over 100 acres, the facility includes advanced capabilities such as barrel manufacturing, bolt carrier and receiver fabrication, sophisticated computer numerical control (CNC) machining, robotics, surface treatment, precision metrology, a metallurgy laboratory, and a 25-meter underground firing range.

Each weapon undergoes rigorous lifecycle testing, ballistic evaluations, and environmental assessments prior to deployment, ensuring compliance with the operational and reliability standards demanded by the Indian Armed Forces.

Designed for scalability, the Gwalior facility boasts an annual production capacity of up to 100,000 weapons, with over 90% of components sourced domestically. This facility plays a crucial role in fostering a wider industrial ecosystem in Madhya Pradesh by creating skilled jobs and supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) throughout the supply chain.

The manufacturing capabilities are reinforced by Adani Defence’s ammunition complex located in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, which is set to commence operations in 2024 with an annual capacity of around 300 million rounds of small caliber ammunition. Future plans include expanding capabilities to include large and medium caliber ammunition, thereby strengthening the integrated weapons and ammunition ecosystem.

This holistic approach to design, manufacturing, and supply chains enhances resilience, improves execution timelines, and fosters long-term self-sufficiency in defense production.

--IAN