Indian Army's firepower just got a major shot in the arm as Adani Defence and Aerospace delivered the first batch of 2,000 'Prahar', light machine guns (LMGs).
Manufactured under the 'Make in India' initiative at the defence major's Small Arms Complex located on the outskirts of Gwalior, the gun—a licensed version of the Israeli Negev NG7 developed by Israel Weapon Industries—promises higher lethality and reliability.
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A. Anbarasu, DG Acquisition, Ministry of Defence, flagged off a series of trucks carrying the first batch of the LMGs meant for the Indian Army in the presence of Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO of Adani Defence and Aerospace, and other senior officials of the company.
"The scale and speed are very critical for improving the Indian defence industry ecosystem, and I'm optimistic that in the coming days, the private industries and public sector industries, all defence industries, will rise to the occasion and meet their potential," Anbarasu said.
Rajvanshi said the company will deliver the total order of 40,000 LMGs in the next three years.
"The journey that has begun today took us six years, starting from bid submission, and we have delivered it 11 months ahead of schedule....The original timeline, which was given to us by the customer, was over seven years, but I can assure you that in the next three years, the full order will be delivered," he said while interacting with the media.
Anbarasu hailed the company for delivering the first tranche of guns ahead of the schedule and said this shows that there is the ability to "race and fire" against time in turning contracts into deliveries.
Why 'Prahar' matters?
The induction of 'Prahar' LMGs marks a significant upgrade to the Indian Army’s infantry firepower, as the guns would enhance the lethality and battlefield adaptability of the forces.
The 7.62 mm-calibre weapon that weighs 7.7 kgs is specifically designed for modern combat as it strikes a perfect balance between firepower and mobility. With a rate of fire of 600–750 rounds per minute, this LMG ensures sustained suppressive fire, critical in both offensive assaults and defensive operations.
The weapon is built for versatility, as it can be fed through an assault drum, belt chain, or magazine, allowing the Indian Army troops to adapt to different combat scenarios.
A gas regulator system enables reliable performance even in adverse conditions such as dust, heat, or high-altitude environments. This feature makes the gun an extremely good fit for the Indian Army troops that operate in different terrains in different theatres across the country.
According to the company, the gun can be quickly dismantled for maintenance, ensuring minimal downtime during operations. The adjustable buttstock and cheek rest improve ergonomics, helping soldiers maintain accuracy and comfort during prolonged engagements.
"Our Negev LMG is very significant for the infantry. The upgraded capabilities of the infantry and the reliability of the LMGs are very high. We believe it will support the Indian troops very much, as it did in the last supply of 16,000 LMGs, which took place in 2020," news agency ANI quoted Shuki Schwartz, chief executive officer of Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), as saying.
