Army to have 4.25 lakh CQB carbines in its arsenal next year: DG Infantry Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar

New Delhi, October 22 (IANS). The Indian Infantry is rapidly transforming into a technology-driven, self-reliant and agile fighting force, in line with the vision of a developed India by 2047. DG Infantry Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar said this in an informal media interaction on Wednesday. He further said that wars are not fought with borrowed weapons. He said that under the modernization drive, the Indian Army will get the following 4.25 lakh Close Quarter Battle (CQB) carbines. He said the total cost of purchasing these 4.25 lakh CQBs is Rs 27,770 crore. According to DG Infantry Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar, the companies have to supply the entire consignment of CQBs within two years. The agreement for the 5.56×45mm CQB carbine was signed last month between the Ministry of Defense and Bharat Forge and PLR Systems, a subsidiary of Kalyani Strategic Systems. According to the agreement, Bharat Forge will supply 60 percent of the 4.25 lakh CQB carbines, while the remaining will be supplied by PLR Systems, a joint venture between Adani Group and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI). Lieutenant General Kumar emphasized that Infantry remains the leading force of the Indian Army. He said the army was undergoing a major transformation under the ‘Decade of Transformation’ initiative, with a focus on modernisation, self-reliance and human resource excellence. The DG said the infantry of the future will be technologically advanced, modular and versatile – able to fight and win in a multi-domain environment. Commemorating the Valor Day on October 27, the Director General recalled the historic air landing of the 1 Sikh Regiment in Srinagar in 1947, which was defending Jammu and Kashmir. He said that Shaurya Diwas reflects the valor, sacrifice and indomitable courage of the Infantry, connecting history with contemporary recognition. Highlighting the lessons learned from Operation Sindoor, Lieutenant General Kumar stressed the importance of precision, cohesion and technology-driven warfare. –IANS MS/DKP Share this story Tags