INSAS

   The INSAS (INdian Small Arms System) is a family of infantry arms, including assault rifle and light machine gun. Both of these weapons share the same basic design. A carbine was also planned, but eventually was not adopted. Development of the INSAS family reportedly commenced in the mid 1980s. The INSAS assault rifle was adopted alongside the light machine gun by the Indian armed forces in 1998. It replaced the L1A1 semi-automatic rifle used by the Indian armed forces since the late 1950s, and the Soviet AKM assault rifle, used since the early 1990s. The INSAS was also adopted by Indian armed police and paramilitary forces. To this day the INSAS is a standard-issue infantry weapon. The INSAS has been exported to Bhutan, Nepal (25 000 rifles), and Oman. A small amount of INSAS rifles were exported to Swaziland. It is believed that overall around 300 000 INSAS rifles were produced to this day. This weapon saw action during various military conflicts including Kargil War (1999), Nepalese Civil War and the ongoing Naxalite-Maoist insurgency in India. Recently Indian MoD was looking for a new weapon to replace the INSAS. In 2019 it was announced that the INSAS will be replaced in Indian service with license-produced AK-203 assault rifles, chambered in 7.62x39 mm ammunition.

   The INSAS is based on a Soviet AKM, but has a number of features from other successful designs, such as an FN FAL (gas system), HK33 (charging handle), Steyr AUG (magazine), and Galil (side-folding metal buttstock, used on the INSAS Mk.1A).

   The INSAS is a gas operated weapon. It is chambered for a standard NATO 5.56x45 mm (.223 Remington) ammunition, opposed to Soviet 5.56x39 mm or 7.62x39 mm ammunition. Originally the INSAS was planned to be adopted in 1994. However the introduction was delayed due to design flaws and the lack of 5.56x45 mm ammunition in India. Eventually ammunition was obtained in large quantity from Israel. Otherwise the INSAS was produced without reliance on foreign components.

   This weapon is capable of semi-auto and 3-round burst firing modes. Fire mode selector is located on the left side, above the pistol grip. So basically the INSAS is a battle rifle, than a true assault rifle. Though there is a version of the INSAS with a full-auto mode. The INSAS rifles made for export can be built with semi-auto, 3-round burst and full-auto firing modes.

   When the INSAS was first introduced it was mired with reliability issues. This weapon had a tendency to jam at high altitudes. Also its magazines cracked due to cold weather and battlefield abuse. There was also a problem firing in 3-round burst mode - the weapon fired in full-auto instead. Some of the problems were eventually fixed on subsequent production batches. Despite that recently Indian MoD decided to replace the INSAS with a more reliable design, the Russian AK-203.

   There are various versions of this assault rifle. Some of them have solid buttstocks, made of wood (early version) or polymer.  There is also a version with side-folding metal buttstock. The INSAS also has a built-in carrying handle. The rifle can be fitted with orange or black furniture, although the later is typically seen with INSAS rifles exported abroad.

   The INSAS assault rifle is fed from 20-round capacity magazines. It is also compatible with 30-round capacity magazines, developed for INSAS light machine gun. Magazines are transparent. This feature was borrowed from the Austrian Steyr AUG. This handy feature allows to see the number rounds left, without removing the magazine from the weapon. Also magazines are designed to the M16 standard. However it appeared that these magazines had a tendency to crack due to cold weather and could not withstand battlefield abuse.

   This assault rifle has built-in iron sights. This weapon has a sighting range of 400 m. However it has effective range of 600 m against point targets. This weapon has a mounting point for telescopic or night sights.

   The INSAS assault rifle can mount a bayonet. It can be also fitted with a 40-mm underbarrel grenade launcher, or fire rifle grenades.

Variants

   INSAS Mk.1 is a baseline version with a solid buttstock.

   INSAS Mk.1A is a version with a side-folding metal buttstock. The buttstock is similar to that of the Israeli Galil, rather than that of the Soviet AKM. This weapon is intended for paratroopers, special forces and vehicle crews. This assault rifle has some minor differences, such as reshaped pistol grip. This version lacks "full-auto" firing mode.

   INSAS light machine gun. It was developed to complement the INSAS assault rifle and has the same basic design. It comes with a longer heavy barrel, bipod, and "full-auto" firing mode. Also this weapon has a different foregrip. It has an effective range of 700 m against area targets. This weapon is used as a standard issue squad-level fire support weapon.

   Kalantak is a carbine version of the INSAS assault rifle. The Kalantak has a sighting range of 300 m.

   Amogh is a personal defense weapon, chambered for a newly developed 5.56x30 mm ammunition. This weapon was developed for the troops, like vehicle crews, that do not need a full-size assault rifle, or troops that need a weapon for close combat engagements. The Amogh has a sighting range of 200 m.

   Excalibur is a recent improved version of the INSAS. Reliability issues were addressed. Test conducted in early 2015 were moderately successful with only two stoppages during testing after 24 000 firing rounds. The Excalibur is chambered for a standard NATO 5.56x45 mm ammunition. In 2015 it has been reported that INSAS might be replaced by the Excalibur.