DRDO Presents Indian Army With An Indigenous Machine Pistol
Indigenous Machine Pistol: Moving seriously towards fulfilling the Narendra Modi’s self-reliance promise for India, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has now developed its own indigenous 9mm machine pistol.
The Indian defence research offshoot of the Defence Ministry, its Pune-based facility Armament Research and Development Establishment and the Infantry School is said to have designed and developed this weapon in a record time of four months.
This Asmi self-loading pistol will be widely used by the Indian Army and would ccost Rs. 50,000 each. It is also ready for export, if need be. Its upper receiver is made from aircraft-grade aluminum while the lower one is from carbon fibre. The 3D printing technology has been used in designing and prototyping of various parts, including trigger components that have been made by metal 3D printing.
The Defense Ministry has stated that the product would primarily be useful as a ‘personal weapon’ that would replace the conventional carbines that the Indian Army has been using. This new indigenous variety is also going to be helpful in modernizing the armoury of the Central Armed Police and state police forces.
A formal press statement by the Defense Ministry further states that, “This new weapon would help in heavy weapon detachments as a personal weapon. It is effective for commanders, tank and aircraft crews, drivers and dispatch riders, radio or radar operators, and closed quarter battles, counter-insurgency as well as counter-terrorism operations etc. This is also likely to find huge employability with the central and state police organisations, as well as VIP protection duties and policing. The Machine Pistol is likely to have production cost under Rs 50,000 each and has potential for exports. The weapon is aptly named Asmi, which means pride, self-respect and also hard work.”
The development of an in-house piece of ammunition which is ready for exports too, shows India’s growing prowess and ability to compete with foreign marketers in the US and Israel.
