October 23, 2025

Get ready for a big leap in the Indian Army’s fight gear! Bharat Forge and PLR Systems, a team-up between Adani Defence & Aerospace and Israel Weapon Industries, have bagged a massive ₹2,770 crore contract. They will deliver a whopping 4.25 lakh Close Quarters Battle (CQB) carbines, making the Army’s soldiers super ready for face-to-face fights. This news was announced by Lt General Ajay Kumar, Director General Infantry, ahead of Shaurya Diwas on October 27. Why is this deal so important? Well, these new carbines will replace the old 9x19mm Sterling rifles, which have been stuck since the 1940s! Imagine fighting modern wars with weapons from the last century—this upgrade is a dream come true. Bharat Forge will supply 60% of the guns, and PLR Systems will handle the rest 40%. The plan is to start bringing these new babies into service by September 2026. Lt Gen Ajay Kumar said, "The modernisation of Infantry forces is progressing across multiple domains—lethality, mobility, battlefield transparency, situational awareness, survivability, and training." This shows the Army is not just getting new guns but seriously transforming every part of infantry power. It’s not only about these carbines. The whole Army is upgrading weapons—from assault rifles and LMGs now using more powerful 7.62mm rounds to sniper rifles with ultra-precise .338 calibres. Plus, the anti-tank game is being stepped up with new 4th and 5th-generation tech and light rocket launchers. With a sharp eye on Atmanirbharta (self-reliance), India’s Defence Ministry has approved buying 104 Javelin missiles and 12 launchers from Lockheed Martin-Raytheon JV. This highly advanced shoulder-fired weapon, favored by the former Trump administration in the U.S., was bought urgently to boost firepower. And the Army’s special forces are growing fast too! The elite ‘Bhairav’ light commandos, designed for lightning-fast strike missions, already have 5 battalions ready. Another 20 battalions are in the pipeline within six months. Lt Gen Kumar called them "lean, lethal, and highly mobile," perfect to handle hot spots near India’s borders with China and Pakistan. Drones are flying high in Army plans as well. The Infantry has created 380 ASHNI platoons focused on drone warfare. These platoons, each with 20 special soldiers, participated in Exercise Yudh Kaushal 3.0 in Arunachal Pradesh. Loaded with drones for spying, scouting, and fighting, they bring a futuristic punch to battlefields. Clearly, the Indian Army’s modernization story is packed with power, precision, and fresh tech—all set to rewrite the rules of battle! This ₹2,770 crore CQB carbine contract is just the sparkling start of a thrilling new chapter for India’s foot soldiers.

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Tags: Indian army, Infantry modernisation, Close quarters battle carbines, Bharat forge, Plr systems, Bhairav battalions,