28.5c India
The Indian Army has strategically inducted 550 locally built Asmi machine pistols into its Northern Command, based in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. This is a significant step in India's transition to self-reliance in defence production, underscoring the country's commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities.
The Asmi handgun, designed by Colonel Prasad Bansod in partnership with DRDO, is manufactured by Hyderabad-based Lokesh Machines. The US sanctioned the company on October 30 because of its ties with Russian companies. However, the pistol was inducted before these punishments.
The Asmi machine pistol is tiny, durable, and built explicitly for close-quarters fighting. It can be used single-handed as a handgun or submachine gun. The weapon was acquired under an emergency route to strengthen the army's counterterrorism capabilities, and more acquisitions are conceivable through capital procurement.
This induction demonstrates the Indian Army's dedication to Atmanirbhar Bharat, or self-sufficient India, as the country prioritizes domestic defence production. In 2023-24, India's military production experienced record growth, with contributions from the public and commercial sectors totalling approximately ₹1.27 lakh crore.
The country plans for a revenue of ₹1.75 lakh crore in 2024-25, led by policies boosting domestic manufacture and increased foreign direct investment in the defence sector.