Ordnance Factory Board displayed a wide range of Small Arms Weaponry during the Aero India-2021, a biennial air show and aviation exhibition. The 13th Edition of Aero India was kick-started at Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bengaluru on Wednesday amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apart from the influx of aerospace and defence companies across the world, the Ordnance Factor Board, which is under the department of defence production, got to present some of the Small Arms that are in the trial phase and production. While some of them have already been inducted into Indian Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces, some of them are still in the trial phase.
OFB recently features the first 8.6x70mm (.338) home-grown Sniper Rifle which weighs nearly 7.45 kilograms and is effective up to a range of 1500 metres, with an accuracy of less than 1 MOA.
However, the weapon was quick to be pointed out using Chinese TAC Vector Optics while the Bolt Rear was found adopted from an enlarged Sauer-202 Bolt Action Sniper Rifle. Only three specimens have been produced to date, mainly for Research & Development purposes.
Vidhwansak Anti-Material Rifle is an Indian derivative of the South African NTW-20, which is used to target enemy bunkers and military hardware and can also be used for counter-sniping in Anti-Personnel role. Vidhwansak is nearly 5 kilograms lighter than NTW-20 and is right now being used by Border Security Force personnel alone.
Chambered for a 14.5×114 mm and 20×82 mm round, it is effective up to a range of 1800 metres and it could be quickly dismantled and carried in two portable man packs each weighing about 12 to 15 kilograms.
The OFB 7.62x51mm Sniper Rifle is currently in service with Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF) and few State Police Forces across India. The recently features 7.62x51mm Sniper Rifle sports many new features that make it set apart, from the RFI 2016 version, which includes match grade barrel and trigger, adjustable cheek raiser and muzzle brake.
OFB recently featured its own variant of the M2 Browning Heavy Machine Gun. Indian Army has been using M2 Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun, since World War-II, which offers long-range, accuracy and immense stopping power. Previously, these M2 Heavy Machine Guns were scavenged from the captured Pakistani tanks and aircraft during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
INSAS 1C is an improvement of INSAS Excalibur platform chambered for the same 5.56x45mm round but with much more improvements. It uses a sturdier milled receiver made from a single block over standard stamped sheet metal receiver used on previous INSAS models like 1b1, 1b and others.
Featured as an alternative by OFB, for non-combatant infantry, it is now in a status limbo and is being pitched as a good alternative for Armed Forces still using INSAS as the primary Assault Rifle, while the Army and Navy are replacing them with SIG-716 Battle Rifles.
The all-new Ishapore 5.56x45mm Carbine is based on the INSAS 1C Assault Rifle and features a 14-inch barrel for CQC/CQB Operations. It is also being pitched to the Indian Army for the current carbine requirements, with the CAR-816 carbines meant to replace the Army’s 9mm Sterling carbines, still stuck in limbo.
OFB has also featured a 7.62x39mm Carbine based on the Bulgarian AKSU47 Carbine, featuring a fibre body along with the same grip & magazine available with INSAS MK1C and P-rails. It is currently being exclusively offered to Indian Forces deployed in Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency Operations.
OFB has also featured a 7.62x39mm Carbine based on the Bulgarian AKSU47 Carbine, featuring a fibre body along with the same grip & magazine available with INSAS MK1C and P-rails. It is currently being exclusively offered to Indian Forces deployed in Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency Operations.
Source: Quora