Soldiers modify INSAS rifles as they await replacements

NEW DELHI: As the army works on its much-delayed programme to replace INSAS rifles, soldiers have come out with innovative ways to reduce overall length and weight of the existing weapons so as to lessen fatigue and enhance accuracy, besides enabling them to fire corner shots.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was impressed with the innovation and even gave an "innovation certificate" to the person who did it.

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Though the army remained tightlipped about who the innovator was and the details, sources said modified INSAS/AK-47 rifle for counter terrorist operations has been designed to reduce overall length and weight of existing weapons so as to reduce fatigue and enhance accuracy of the weapon by aligning the centre of gravity during its employment in counter insurgency operations.

"The modification of INSAS/AK-47 weapon has been done to include corner shot capability. The modified weapon is more stable while firing, compact, easy to carry and has better accuracy," the sources said.

Corner shot guns allow soldiers to shoot around the corner, without endangering the shooter. Corner shot guns usually have a camera and a video monitor for the shooter to see around the corner.

The Army had last year scrapped a four-year-old tender for purchasing 1.8 lakh multi-calibre weapons to replace INSAS, which was inducted in the 1990s.

Army had initially wanted a rifle with interchangeable barrels firing different calibres -- the 5.56-mm INSAS round and the 7.62-mm AK-47 round.

That was because troops use AK-47s in counter-insurgency operations, while the INSAS rifles are issued for peace stations.

However, none of the firms which had pitched for the contract could satisfy the army, with sources saying the General Staff Qualitative Requirements were far too ambitious.

The bidders only had prototypes and no guns that were in service.

The scrapping of the programme is a setback to the army's modernisation plans. Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag had last year, and this year also, identified assault rifles as one of 20 "critical requirements" which included bulletproof jackets and artillery guns.