Assam Rifles ASMI SMG: Hyderabad based Lokesh Machines Ltd. has received a fresh order from Assam Rifles. The company will supply 1,013 ASMI Carbines. It became L1 after a techno commercial check among many companies that took part in the bidding process.
This is the second time the company has sold its indigenously designed developed and manufactured small weapon. Earlier, on 6 April 2024, Lokesh Machines Limited became the L1 bidder and won a contract to supply 550 ASMI Submachine Pistols to the Special Forces of the Indian Army. It beat other companies like PLR Systems and Jindal Defence. That deal was worth Rs 4.6 crore and was the first order for an Indian made small arm after the INSAS rifle.
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At the same time, Jindal Defence also got a different contract. Its Taurus T-9 won a Rs 4.25 crore deal to supply 550 9x19mm Machine Pistols to the Indian Army. The Taurus T-9 is made through a partnership between Jindal Defence and Brazil based Taurus. These pistols will be made in India under Transfer of Technology.
The Story of the ASMI Weapon
The ASMI weapon was designed by Colonel Prasad Bansod. He is the only Indian Army officer in the last 75 years to design and develop a weapon. The gun was developed at the small arms division of Armament Research and Development Establishment in Pune, which works under Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Right now the 9×19 mm carbine is being made in limited numbers. It was created to replace about one million old British designed Sterling carbines that are still from World War 2 times. The ASMI is also seen as a good export product because it costs less than Rs 50,000 per piece. Apart from the Indian Army, small numbers have also been given to forces like National Security Guard, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Border Security Force.
Machine Gun Project and New Contracts
Lokesh Machine Tools has also built a 7.62x51mm belt fed medium machine gun. This gun was also developed with help from ARDE. The MMG can fire single shots or in full automatic mode. It can shoot 800 rounds in one minute and has a range of 1,800 metres. The belt can hold 250 rounds and more belts can be added.
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This machine gun can be placed on naval ships, armoured vehicles and even aircraft. It works in very harsh weather. It can operate in temperatures from -40 degrees to +55 degrees Celsius.
On 6 August 2025, Lokesh Machine Tools received another contract worth Rs 17.7 crore. Under this deal, the company will supply parts for the in service MMGs. These guns are the Belgian FN Herstal MAG-58, also called MAG 2A1 in India. They were earlier made under licence by the old Ordnance Factory Board which is now known as Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited.
