The Indian Army has rejected the indigenously-built 7.62mm assault rifle on grounds that it had failed basic ground tests. The gun is being developed by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). The army has demanded a redesigning of the magazine if the gun is to be considered for procurement.
Presently, the force uses the Kalashnikov AK-47 7.62mm and OFB INSAS 5.56mm assault rifles. A 7.62mm weapon is generally well suited for counter-insurgency operations, where such a calibre can offer greater stopping power, compared to a 5.56mm weapon. The new OFB 7.62mm rifle is reported to be more advanced, accurate and reliable than the AK-47.
The Indian Army’s dilemma over acquiring modern assault rifles continues: In July 2016, the army rejected the OFB Excalibur 5.56mm assault rifle. However, Dr. U Mukherjee, a spokesperson at the OFB, clarified that during the later test trials the gun performed “flawlessly without any stoppages.”
