India has awarded a 27.7-billion-rupee ($315 million) contract to Israeli-Indian joint venture PLR Systems and domestic manufacturer Bharat Forge to supply 425,000 Close Quarters Battle (CQB) carbines.
At least 60 percent of the production is expected to take place in India, according to a report by The Hindu Businessline. Bharat Forge will handle most of the local manufacturing. PLR Systems, jointly owned by Israel Weapon Industries and India’s Adani Group, will deliver 40% of the contract.
The new 5.56x45mm carbines are designed to replace aging 9x19mm submachine guns. They offer greater range, precision, and stopping power for use in close-quarters combat and urban operations. Deliveries are slated to begin in 2026, with full completion expected by 2028.
The contract marks one of the largest small-arms procurements in recent years. Infantry Director General Lt General Ajay Kumar said the deal is part of India’s ongoing push to modernize its infantry arsenal and increase indigenization in defense procurement to ensure that frontline units have lighter, modular weapons.
Indian Small Arms Modernization
The CQB program focuses on providing troops with a compact, high-rate-of-fire carbine optimized for short-range engagements and urban combat. This procurement follows several other Indian small-arms modernization efforts.
In 2023, India began inducting SIG 716 rifles for frontline infantry and AK-203 assault rifles produced through Indo-Russian joint manufacturing in Amethi.
The army has also been expanding contracts for night-vision optics, loitering munitions, and advanced soldier systems as part of its Future Infantry Soldier As a System (F-INSAS) program. These initiatives aim to boost the self-reliance and combat readiness of India’s armed forces through domestically anchored production and sustained technology partnerships.
