Indian Army poised to conduct assault rifle trials

摘要

The Indian Army is expected to begin long-delayed trials involving four competing multi-calibre 5.56 × 45 mm assault rifles in May in support of its requirement for 66,000 rifles, estimated to cost about USD300 million. The competing rifles - fielded by the Czech Republic's Czeca (CZ 807A Bren model), Italy's Beretta (ARX-160), Israel's IWI (ACE 1), and US firm Colt (Colt Combat Rifle or Advanced Colt) - will over several months conduct firing-trials at several locations in diverse climatic conditions. These include the western Rajasthan desert, high-altitude locations in the Himalayas, and high humidity areas: all places where the assault rifles are likely to be employed, Beretta's general manager, Carlo Ferlito, told IHS Janes at the Defexpo 2014 exhibition in New Delhi. Each rifle has already completed its technical evaluation.