Nagpur, January 06, 2006 (Business Standard)

The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has developed its own version of anti-material rifle which was earlier sought to be procured from the South African company, Denel.

This was disclosed by P K Mishra, chairman, Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). Mishra was addressing the valedictory function of the 31st and 32nd batches of Indian Ordnance Factory Service (IOFS) officers at the National Academy of Defence Production, Ambazari.

An anti-material rifle is an infantry weapon used on soft targets including bunkers while carbine is a sort of a machine gun. All deals with Denel were frozen over an year ago after allegations of commission being paid for the procurement of anti-material rifles surfaced. Investigations are still believed to be continuing in the matter.

Mishra said the rifles developed by the ordnance factory in the country allowed more operational advantage than the one offered by Denel. The calibre of the rifles being made here are more suited to varied conditions, he said.

“We will be needing 20 mm ammunition for testing the rifles and the same has been sought from the Army after which user trials will commence,” Mishra revealed.

The OFB has also developed a 5.56 mm carbine which would also be subjected to user trials soon. Mishra said the armed forces were earlier stressing on importing these weapons, but the Defence Minister’s intervention lead to the ordnance factories here getting the opportunity.

He said another carbine had been developed by the ordnance factory in association with the Israel Military Industry (IMI). The carbine has inter-changeable barrels of 9 mm and 5.56 mm, he disclosed.

Apart from these, a number of other weapons have also been developed indigenously.

These include an under-barrel grenade launcher and a multi-barrel grenade launcher (MGL). The MGL, which was being imported, has now been developed indigenously through re-engineering. The 125 mm Mark II, 84 mm Mark III ammunition have also been developed, said Mishra.

One of the remarkable achievements was the development of 72 x 62 mm SRGM guns for use by the Indian Navy. The Navy has already placed orders for it, he said.

The ‘Prahari’ guns of 12.7 mm calibre deployed with the Coast Guard vessels have also been developed by the ordnance factories, Mishra said.

He stressed that the organisation was laying special emphasis on modernisation and attempting to keep its products in tune with the times.

A special emphasis was also on upgrading officers training, which has a direct impact on productivity. Ordnance Factories have now come up with a “mentorship programme” under which trainees at the NADP will be put under the wings of special officials, Mishra said.