Adani Defence & Aerospace on Saturday handed over the first batch of 2,000 ‘Prahar’ light machine guns (LMGs) to the Indian Army in Gwalior, marking an early milestone in a large-scale order for around 40,000 weapons under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The handover aims to boost the Army’s frontline firepower along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC).The consignment was dispatched from the company’s small arms manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Gwalior, almost 11 months ahead of schedule.
The formal flag-off was conducted by A Anbarasu, Director General (Acquisition) at the Ministry of Defence, who commended the project’s timely completion.“The journey that has begun today took us six years, starting from bid submission, and we have delivered the first batch 11 months ahead of schedule,” he said while flagging off the first shipment.Prahar LMG: Key specificationsThe Prahar LMG is a 7.62 mm-calibre weapon with an effective range of 1,000 metres.
- Weight: 8 kg
- Barrel length: 508 mm
- Indigenous content: Over 90% of components sourced domestically
- Designed for high-efficiency use in high-tension deployment zones, the weapon is expected to enhance operational capabilities across critical fronts.
Scaling up production
Adani Defence is set to ramp up production to about 1,000 LMGs per month starting April 2026, targeting completion of the full order within three years — well ahead of the original seven-year timeline.CEO Ashish Rajvanshi said the project represents more than just a contract:“The original timeline was over seven years, but I can assure you that in the next three years, the full order will be delivered.”Rajvanshi added that the programme underscores Adani’s transformation into a full-scale Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for small arms.“It has taken us six years to reach this point… With the perseverance of the team and policy support, we have moved from a component manufacturer to a full gun OEM.”The 100-acre Gwalior facility integrates:
- CNC machining and robotics
- Advanced metallurgy and testing systems
- Annual capacity of 100,000 firearms and 300 million rounds of small-calibre ammunition
Poll
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Expanding capabilities and future plans
The company’s vision extends beyond the Prahar project toward developing a comprehensive ecosystem for indigenous small arms in India. Future production lines will include assault rifles, sniper systems, carbines, pistols, and close-quarter battle (CQB) weapons.Positioned as a key node in India’s evolving defence manufacturing landscape, the Gwalior plant is expected to serve both domestic and export markets, supporting the government’s broader goals of self-reliance under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
