In a significant development for India’s defense capabilities, Northern Army Commander Lt General M V Suchindra Kumar conducted a review and demonstration of the newly inducted indigenous ASMI (Asmita) machine pistols at Udhampur on Saturday. The ASMI has been jointly developed by Colonel Prasad Bansod in conjunction with the Pune-based Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), marking a noteworthy step in India’s push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
The introduction of this Made-in-India weapon underscores the Indian Army’s commitment to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, aimed at bolstering indigenous production. According to the Northern Command, the ASMI submachine gun, which is designed for close-quarter combat, boasts an impressive firing rate of 600 rounds per minute, with its effective range reaching up to 100 meters.
The Indian Army officially inducted 550 ASMI units on November 5, with these weapons being delivered primarily to the Para Special Forces, a unit actively engaged in counter-terrorism operations and tasked with safeguarding the nation’s borders with China and Pakistan. The significance of the ASMI extends beyond the Army, as organizations such as the Border Security Force (BSF), the National Security Guard (NSG), and the Assam Rifles have also begun trials with the weapon. The BSF has ordered four units, while both NSG and Assam Rifles received ten units each for testing purposes. The production of this cutting-edge weapon is being managed by Lokesh Machines Ltd, based in Hyderabad.
This push for indigenous equipment is part of a broader government strategy to reduce dependency on foreign imports, which often come at a high cost. In another mark of its commitment to harnessing advanced technology, the Indian Army recently collaborated with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to conduct the HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2 at the Wari La Pass in Ladakh. This unique event took place at altitudes exceeding 15,000 feet and provided a platform for over 20 drone manufacturers to present various drone technologies tailored for high-altitude operations.
These initiatives reflect the Indian Army’s ongoing efforts to enhance operational effectiveness through domestic innovation and production, paving the way for a stronger defense posture in an increasingly complex security environment.
