Observer Report
New Delhi
The Indian defence ministry has signed a major contract for procuring more than 16,000 light machine guns from an Israeli firm for frontline troops.
The ministry on Thursday said that it has signed a Rs 880 crore contract for the light machine guns with Israel weapons industries. “The Indian Armed Forces’ long-standing requirement of a modern state-of-the-art Light Machine Gun (LMG) has finally fructified. The Acquisition Wing of Ministry of Defence has signed the capital acquisition contract with Israel Weapons Industries for procurement of 16,479 LMGs at a cost of Rs 880 crore with the approval of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh,” it said, reported The Economic Times. The contracted Negev 7.62X51 mm LMG is a combat proven weapon and currently used by several countries around the globe. The LMG, is believed, will enhance the lethality and range of a soldier in comparison with presently used weapon, the INSAS LMG that has a calibre of 5.56x45mm.
These guns are being procured under the Fast Track Procedure (FTP). The FTP is to ensure expeditious procurement for urgent operational requirements of the regular and special forces. The Defence Acquisition Council had cleared the procurement of these LMGs for the army, air force and navy in February 2018. An army led team had visited Bulgaria to meet representation.
