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Army to draw up plan to tackle small arms shortage

The Army needs to replace its small arms with modern weapons in the wake of changing dynamics of counter-terror operations in Kashmir.

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The top brass of the Indian Army will brainstorm and prepare a blueprint for expediting the force's slow modernisation as they face an acute shortage of small arms. There has been no breakthrough in procuring rifles, carbines and light machine guns that are needed to enhance counter terror operations in Kashmir.

This along with other issues pertaining to operations will be taken up at the army commander's conference to be held on October 9-15 in Delhi, sources said.

"Lack of small arms has been a long pending issue for the infantry. It needs to be addressed at the earliest," an army source said.

The Army needs to replace its small arms with modern weapons in the wake of changing dynamics of counter-terror operations in Kashmir.

Other than modernisation, deliberations over a range of issues comprising about 30 key areas will take place in the conference. This will also include administrative issues related to promotions and pay structure that will be taken up with the Ministry of Defence.

The replacement for the traditional Indian Small Arms Systems( INSAS) rifles inducted in 1988 has still not been found. The Army needs nearly 2 lakh assault rifles as an alternative of INSAS.

With the Army expressing reservations about assault rifles being developed by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) which was expected to meet their requirement, the process to identify a suitable rifle is in limbo, sources said.

A review of the 'desi' or indigenously designed assault rifles by the Army had found the weapon 'unsatisfactory' and 'unreliable' denting the 'Make in India' mantra for enhancing India's military firepower.

The need for light machine guns and carbines has also not been addressed. The Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV), one of the key 'Make in India' projects for the Army has also not seen any breakthrough.

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