New Delhi: Days after the US imposed sanctions on Indian small arms manufacturer Lokesh Machines, the Indian Army announced the induction of its indigenous Asmi machine pistol.
The Army made the announcement Tuesday, though deliveries of the weapon, also known as a submachine gun, were completed about three months ago.
The Asmi was developed by Colonel Prasad Bansod of the Indian Army in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The the US has imposed sanctions on Lokesh Machines for “openly advertising its exports to Russia”.
Founded in Hyderabad in 1983, Lokesh Machines Ltd has come under the scanner of the US treasury department for its shipments of machine tools to Russia and allegedly helping Moscow’s weapons manufacturing sector.
In a post on X Tuesday, the Army said it had inducted 550 “Asmi” machine pistols into the Northern Command to fulfil its commitment to enhance “Atmanirbharta”, or a self-reliant India.
The post said the Asmi pistol was a robust, compact and reliable weapon designed for close-quarter battles and specialised operations. Its unique semi-bullpup design allows for single-handed operation, both as a pistol and a submachine gun, it added.
Earlier this year, the firm delivered 550 9x19mm calibre Asmi submachine guns to the Indian Army’s Northern Command.
Besides the Army, several state police forces, the National Security Guard (NSG), the Assam Rifles, and the Border Security Forces (BSF) have shown an interest in Asmi.
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What is Asmi?
Asmi is a 9x19mm machine pistol. It has an 8-inch barrel and 33 rounds of high-capacity magazine load.
The Army selected the pistol over the Israeli Uzi and the German Heckler and Koch MP5. It was designed, developed and manufactured in less than three years.
The pistol can be used in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, as well as in close-quarter battle (CQB) and policing duties.
The Hyderabad-based small-arms manufacturer secured an order worth Rs 4.26 crore from the Northern Command.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)