Multi Calibre Individual Weapon System | |
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Type | Assault rifle |
Place of origin | India |
Production history | |
Designed | 2015–present |
Manufacturer | Armament Research and Development Establishment Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli |
No. built | 6 Preproduction prototypes |
Specifications | |
Mass | 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) (empty) 4 kg (8.8 lb) (loaded with magazine) |
Length | 910 mm (36 in) (including butt) |
Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO 7.62×39mm 6.8mm Remington SPC |
Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
Rate of fire | 600-650 rpm |
Muzzle velocity | 715–890 m/s (2,350–2,920 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 700 meters [1] |
Feed system | 30-round detachable box magazines |
Sights | Iron sights, various day and night optical sight |
Multi Calibre Individual Weapon System (MCIWS) is an assault rifle developed in India by the Armament Research and Development Establishment, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation. [2] It was first seen at the DEFEXPO 2014 exhibition. [3]
As of 2015, the rifle is also known as the Advanced Automatic Rifle (AAR) and also as the F-INSAS rifle.
The Indian Army chose an indigenous assault rifle to replace the INSAS rifle currently in service. The decision, which could save money in foreign exchange and boost local manufacture, was made by the former Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh Suhag. Several rifles are currently undergoing small arms trials with three prototype rifles made for testing as a future replacement to the INSAS rifle. [4] [5] [6]
The MCIWS has also found interest with the Indian paramilitary forces including the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Sashastra Seema Bal. [7] [8]
According to a DRDO September 18, 2018 newsletter, the MCIWS is now ready for serial production. [9]
In October 2017, the MCIWS procurement was superseded by an Army process to acquire around 7 lakh 7.62mm calibre rifles.
In February 2019, the Indian Army signed a deal with SIG Sauer for the supply of 72,400 SIG716i rifles of 7.62x51mm calibre. [10] This was followed by a second order for a similar number of rifles in July 2020. [11]
On 3 March 2019, Russia and India inaugurated Indo-Russia Rifles in Uttar Pradesh, India to produce 7.62x39mm AK-203 assault rifles as a replacement for the INSAS. [12] However, no contract has been signed or rifles produced because of pricing disagreements. [13] The factory is unlikely to begin production in 2020. [14]
The MCIWS is configured to fire in 5.56×45mm NATO, 7.62×39mm and in 6.8mm Remington SPC. [3] Its design is influenced by both the AR-15 and the FN FNC. [3] The barrel assembly appears to be based on the AK-47. [15]
The design would allow soldiers to configure it according to the needs of the missions by changing rifle barrels. [5] The MCIWS uses a gas-operated short stroke piston design, and uses 30-round plastic-type magazines. [15] [6] The rifle also has ambidextrous features, such as the charging lever and magazine release. [6] The MCIWS includes an indigenous under barrel grenade launcher to fire airburst-type grenades which can take out targets up to 500 meters. [3] Various sights can be mounted on the Picatinny rail on the upper receiver. [6]
The rifle is of aluminium alloy and features a modular, rivet-less design. [7]
The IWI Tavor, previously designated as the Tavor TAR-21, is an Israeli bullpup assault rifle chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO calibre, designed and produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI). It is part of the Tavor family of rifles, which have spawned many derivatives of the original design.
INSASor Indian Small Arms System is a family of infantry arms consisting of an assault rifle and a light machine gun (LMG). These weapons were developed in India by the Armament Research and Development Establishment and manufactured by the Ordnance Factories Board at its various factories. The INSAS assault rifle was the standard infantry weapon of the Indian Armed Forces for almost three decades.
A designated marksman rifle (DMR) is a modern scoped high-precision rifle used by infantry in the designated marksman (DM) role. It generally fills the engagement range gap between a service rifle and a dedicated sniper rifle, at around 300–600 metres (330–660 yd).
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In India, the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Pune, it is the main DRDO lab involved in the development of conventional armaments.
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The Beretta ARX160 is an Italian modular assault rifle manufactured by Beretta. Developed for the Italian Armed Forces as part of the Soldato Futuro program, the ARX160 was launched in 2008 as a commercial weapon system independent from the Soldato Futuro ensemble, complete with a companion single-shot 40×46mm NATO low-velocity grenade launcher, called the GLX160, which can be mounted underneath the rifle or used with an ad hoc stock system as a stand-alone weapon.
The AK-12, "Avtomat Kalashnikova, 2012" is a Russian assault rifle chambered in 5.45×39mm designed and manufactured by the Kalashnikov Concern, making it the fifth generation of Kalashnikov rifles.
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Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli (OFT), also called Ordnance Factory Trichy, is a small arms factory operated by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited based in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, which was previously part of Ordnance Factory Board of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The company is headed only by an IOFS officer called General Manager (ex officio Additional Secretary to Government of India) who is the Chief Executive Officer, responsible for the overall management of the company. OFT is the largest small arms manufacturing company of India and has the most varied range.
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