By N. C. Bipindra

New Delhi: The Indian Army has received delivery of 2,000 locally-made ‘Prahar’ Light Machine Guns (LMGs) from Adani Defence and Aerospace, marking a significant milestone in ‘Make in India’ arms production.

The 7.62mm ‘Prahar’ LMG significantly reduces reliance on imported infantry weapons and strengthens defence manufacturing self-reliance, Adani Defence and Aerospace said in a statement on March 28, 2026.

The LMGs were delivered within seven months, 11 months ahead of the contracted schedule. India’s Ministry of Defence Additional Secretary and Director General Acquisition A. Anbarasu and senior Indian Army officers were present.

The LMGs were produced at Adani Defence and Aerospace’s fully integrated small arms manufacturing hub, India’s first in the private sector, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, the company said.

“The First-of-Production Model (FOPM) was realised in six months against a stipulated 18-month development timeline. Bulk Production Clearance (BPC) followed, enabling a rapid transition to full-scale manufacturing,” it said.

Spread across 100 acres, the facility integrates barrel manufacturing, bolt carrier and receiver fabrication, advanced computer numerical control (CNC) machining, robotics, surface treatment, precision metrology, a metallurgy laboratory, and a 25-metre underground firing range.

“Each weapon undergoes lifecycle testing, ballistic assessment, and environmental trials before deployment, ensuring adherence to the operational and reliability standards required by the Indian armed forces,” it said.

Designed for scale, the Gwalior facility has an annual production capacity of up to 100,000 weapons, with more than 90% domestic sourcing.

“The facility is contributing to a broader industrial ecosystem in Madhya Pradesh by generating skilled employment and supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the supply chain,” the company said.

The manufacturing capability is also supported by Adani Defence’s ammunition complex in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, commissioned in 2024.

The facility has an annual capacity of around 300 million rounds of small-calibre ammunition, with plans to expand capabilities to manufacture large and medium-calibre ammunition, strengthening the integrated weapons and ammunition ecosystem.

“This integrated approach across design, manufacturing, and supply chains enhances resilience, improves execution timelines, and supports long-term self-reliance in defence production,” it said.

Looking ahead, Adani Defence and Aerospace would manufacture close-quarter battle (CQB) weapons for the Indian armed forces at the Gwalior facility, further expanding India’s indigenous small arms capability.

The ‘Pahar’ is the Indianised variant of the Israeli Wepon Industries ‘Negev’ LMGs. Weighing about 7.95 kg, the Prahar LMG can fire about 650-700 rounds per minute.

The PLR Systems, which Adani Defence and Aerospace took over a few years ago, manufactured the Prahar as part of an India-Israel joint venture under a technology transfer.

The first lot of 2,000 Prahar LMGs supplied to the Indian Army is part of a 41,000-unit order placed in August 2024. About 50% of the critical components for the Prahar LMGs are locally made at Adani’s Gwalior facility.

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