Bharat Forge signs its largest small arms contract worth Rs 1,662 cr with Defence Ministry

Bharat Forge Limited on Tuesday announced that the Ministry of Defence has awarded a Rs 1,661.9 crore contract for supply of 255,128 CQB Carbines to the Indian Army. The order is set for execution within five years.

The 5.56 x 45 mm Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbine is an indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured (IDDM) compact firearm jointly developed by Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Forge Ltd.

Also read: Defence Ministry signs Rs 4,666 crore deals to buy new carbines and torpedoes


"Aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, we – BFL, and our wholly-owned defence subsidiary Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), remain dedicated to equipping the Indian Armed Forces with ‘Made in India’ advanced defence equipment and platforms," the company said in a release.

What is a CQB Carbine?

The CQB Carbine is intended to serve operational needs in urban warfare and counter-insurgency missions, where existing assault rifles may be less effective due to their size.

The weapon is designed for rapid response in close-range combat scenarios such as counter-terrorism operations, building clearances, and engagements in dense or urban areas. Its compact design improves mobility and response time during missions where standard assault rifles may not be suitable.

Also read: Defence Ministry okays weapons purchase worth Rs 79,000 crore

“This weapon has been designed by DRDO’s ARDE, Pune, and is being manufactured by Bharat Forge,” Prateek Kishore, Scientist and Director General of Armament & Combat Engineering Systems (ACE), DRDO, said earlier. “It’s a clear case of full synergy between the development agency and the manufacturing partner, which has contributed to the successful realization of this system. It’s an extremely proud moment not just for DRDO, but for the country as a whole.”

According to DRDO, the weapon weighs approximately 3.3 kilograms and has an effective range of 200 meters. It can fire both NATO-standard and INSAS ammunition.

“It is a highly potent weapon for our infantry soldiers,” Kishore had said. “Its ability to accommodate different ammunition types places it in a class of its own.”