India army RFI carbines 5.56mm request for information 12006171

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Defense & Security News - India
 
Global Request for Information from Indian Army for close-quarter battle carbines 5.56mm caliber
The Indian Army has issued a global request for information (RFI) regarding a potential procurement of some 200,000 close-quarter battle carbines in 5.56mm caliber. The order is expected to eventually grow to 500,000 in order to equip internal security forces as well. (Source Forecast)
     
The Indian Army has issued a global request for information (RFI) regarding a potential procurement of some 200,000 close-quarter battle carbines in 5.56mm caliber. The order is expected to eventually grow to 500,000 in order to equip internal security forces as well. (Source Forecast)
Indian security forces with assault rifle 1A1 7.62mm caliber
     

The formal tender is expected to be issued in the coming six months with transfer of technology and local license-production part of the contract conditions. Any such sale would therefore involve a tie-up between a foreign vendor and Indian defense firm as part of the "Buy and Make India" procurement category.

The quest for new close-quarter battle carbines has followed a winding path familiar to Indian defense procurement projects. A domestic development effort through the state-owned Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) failed to garner military acceptance, while a global tender launched in 2011for 44,618 carbines along with 33.6 million rounds of ammunition ultimately being cancelled. The latter tender elicited bids from Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), Beretta, Colt and Sig Sauer. IWI emerged as the single vendor for the tender after the others failed to meet the qualitative requirements pertaining to night vision mounting.

The latest bid is expected to garner attention from Italy's Beretta, FN Herstal of Belgium, Heckler & Koch of Germany, Colt from and Sig Sauer from United States. Local tie-up possibilities include Indian private sector firms Mahindra Defense, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge and Reliance Defense.