DG Infantry Lt. General Ajay Kumar
Bharat Forge and PLR Systems, a joint endeavor in between Adani Defence & Aerospace and Israel Weapon Industries, protected a landmark agreement worth 2,770 crore last month for the supply of 4.25 lakh Close Quarters Battle (CQB)carbines. The agreement becomes part of the Indian Army’s continuous modernisation efforts, revealed Director General of Infantry, Lt General Ajay Kumar, on Wednesday.
The carbines, anticipated to be inducted into service beginning September 2026, will substantially boost the Army’s close-range battle abilities. Bharat Forge will be accountable for providing 60% of the carbines, while PLR Systems will provide the staying 40%, Lt Gen Kumar stated ahead of Shaurya Diwas, the Infantry Day celebrated on October 27.
Carbines change out-of-date Sterling rifles; induction begins September 2026
The acquisition intends to change the aging 9x19mm Sterling carbines, which have actually remained in service for over twenty years. Initially developed in the 1940s, the Sterling carbine is now thought about out-of-date, especially for modern-day counter-terrorism and close-quarters battle situations.
“The modernisation of Infantry forces is advancing throughout numerous domains– lethality, movement, battleground openness, situational awareness, survivability, and training,” Lt Gen Kumar specified, stressing the broad scope of the Army’s improvement.
Infantry modernisation covers lethality, movement, situational awareness, survivability
The carbines will reinforce the lethality of Indian Infantry, lining up with the Army’s shift towards more reliable close fight weapons. As part of this modernisation, the Army has actually currently updated its attack rifles and light gatling gun (LMGs) from 5.56 mm to 7.62 mm calibres. Older sniper rifles are being changed with.338 calibre designs to boost long-range accuracy.
In addition, the Infantry is likewise boosting its anti-tank abilities. The Army is transitioning from 2nd-generation to 4th and 5th-generation anti-tank innovations, consisting of next-generation, light-weight rocket launchers with enhanced functional efficiency.
Shift to sophisticated calibres: attack rifles, LMGs, sniper rifles updated
While the focus stays on “Atmanirbharta” (self-reliance), the Ministry of Defence has actually authorized the acquisition of 104 Javelin rockets and 12 launchers from the U.S.-based joint endeavor of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. This innovative shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon, highly promoted by the Trump administration, is being acquired under an emergency situation procurement (EP) plan.
To satisfy the needs of future warfare, the Indian Army is likewise reinforcing its unique operations forces. 5 battalions of the elite ‘Bhairav’ light task forces have actually currently been released, with 20 more systems prepared to be raised within the next 6 months. These battalions, developed to bridge the space in between traditional Infantry and unique forces, are customized for quick, high-impact operations along India’s borders with China and Pakistan.
Unique forces growth: 5 Bhairav battalions released, 20 more scheduled
“The Bhairav battalions are lean, deadly, and extremely mobile, optimised for quick operations in high-intensity circumstances,” Lt Gen Kumar included, highlighting their function in enhancing the Army’s capability to react to emerging security hazards.
Drones, significantly main to modern-day warfare, likewise include plainly in the Army’s future strategies. Lt Gen Kumar revealed that the Infantry has actually raised 380 ASHNI armies devoted to drone operations. These squads took part in Exercise Yudh Kaushal 3.0 in Arunachal Pradesh last month, checking their abilities in a real-world battle environment. Each ASHNI squad, including 20 specifically skilled soldiers, is geared up with a range of drones for intelligence, security, reconnaissance (ISR), and fight operations.
Released on October 22, 2025
