Indian MoD procures carbines, torpedoes in USD519 million deal

PLR Systems will deliver 170,000 CQB carbines based on Galil Ace (pictured) to the Indian Armed forces. (IWI)

India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts worth INR46.66 billion (USD519 million) on 30 December to procure close quarter battle (CQB) carbines and heavyweight torpedoes (HWTs) for the Indian Armed Forces.

The MoD said it signed a contract worth INR2.77 billion with Indian firm Bharat Forge Limited (BFL) and PLR Systems, a joint venture between Indian company Adani Group and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), to deliver at least 425,000 carbines to the Indian Army and the Navy.

An IWI spokesperson told Janes that the company will deliver 170,000 carbines to the Indian Armed Forces over a span of five to six years. The carbines will be produced domestically and will be based on the IWI's Galil Ace carbine.

The Galil Ace is a selective-fire, air-cooled, magazine box-fed, gas-operated weapon of a conventional design. It is configured for either automatic or semi-automatic fire via the use of a fire-selector lever.

In June 2025, the MoD also selected the locally developed 5.56×45 mm carbine produced by BFL as the lowest bidder in a requirement for the Indian Army. The carbine is designed and developed by the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), an agency under the state-owned Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).

The carbine weighs 3.25 kg, which makes it “one of the lightest carbines in the market”, according to BFL. The weapon – based on Thales' F90 assault rifle – is a gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed carbine of a bullpup design. It features single and automatic fire modes and is fitted with a 40 mm grenade launcher attachment.