Shamimulislam at 06:45, 28 April 2026

2026-04-28T06:45:10Z

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{{Short description|Indian carbine derived from the INSAS family}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = DRDO Close Quarter Battle carbine
| image = DRDO-Bharat Forge CQBC.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = DRDO Close Quarter Battler carbine
| origin = [[India]]
| type = [[Carbine]]
| is_ranged = Yes
| service =
| used_by = * [[Indian Army]]
* [[Indian Navy]]
| wars =
| designer = [[Armament Research and Development Establishment]] ([[DRDO]])
| design_date = late 2010s–2020s
| manufacturer = [[Bharat Forge]]
| production_date = 2026–present
| number = 255,128 (planned)
| variants =
| weight = {{convert|3.3|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| length =
| part_length =
| cartridge = [[5.56×45mm NATO]] & INSAS
| action =
| rate = >600 rounds/min
| velocity =
| range = 200m
| feed = 30-round detachable [[box magazine]]
| sights = In-built [[iron sights]], mount point for telescopic or night sight
}}

The '''DRDO Close Quarter Battle carbine''' is a [[carbine]] developed in [[India]] by the [[Armament Research and Development Establishment]] (ARDE) and manufactured by the Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL) of [[Bharat Forge]] as per the carbine requirements of the [[Indian Armed Forces]].

==History==
The Indian Armed Forces have had a long history when it failed to find a replacement of its in-service [[Sterling submachine gun|SAF Carbine 1A1/2A1]] models which had been [[Licensed production|license manufactured]] by the [[Ordnance Factory Board]] (OFB) since 1963 and 1977, respectively.<ref name="SAF">{{cite web |title=Product Development History |url=http://saf.gov.in/product.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801055310/http://saf.gov.in/product.html |archive-date=1 August 2019 |website=Small Arms Factory, Kanpur}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2012 |title=Manufacturing of Small Weapons |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=84268 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316225736/https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=84268 |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |website=[[Press Information Bureau]]}}</ref> The first attempt to acquire a carbine was made in 2008 when both [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] and [[Ordnance Factory Board|OFB]] failed to meet the [[Indian Army]]'s requirements.<ref name="AQ">{{Cite web |last=Philip |first=Snehesh Alex |date=2022-07-28 |title=Army's quest for close-quarter battle carbines continues. Here are its options |url=https://theprint.in/defence/armys-quest-for-close-quarter-battle-carbines-continues-here-are-its-options/1057569/ |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> Simultaneously, the [[Indian Navy]] also cleared a carbine procurement programme in 2008 with a [[Invitation to tender|tender]] issued in 2010. However, the procurement remained inclomplete.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Arjun Dev |date=2026-01-03 |title=Indian Navy to finally get CQB carbine after two-decade wait |url=https://chakranewz.com/critical-technologies/indian-navy-to-finally-get-cqb-carbine-after-two-decade-wait |access-date=2026-01-03 |website=chakranewz |language=en}}</ref>

This was followed by a global tender was launched in 2011 for a requirement for the acquisition of 44,618 CQB carbines. Four companies — Israel's [[IWI]], Italian [[Beretta]], and American firms [[Colt's Manufacturing Company|Colt]] and [[SIG Sauer|Sig Sauer]] — had responded to the tender. However, only IWI, presenting its [[IWI Galil ACE]] carbine,<ref name="Peri">{{Cite news |last=Peri |first=Dinakar |date=2017-05-04 |title=Punj Lloyd, IWI of Israel make small arms in India |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/punj-lloyd-iwi-of-israel-make-small-arms-in-india/article18383248.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251230143416/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/punj-lloyd-iwi-of-israel-make-small-arms-in-india/article18383248.ece/amp/ |archive-date=2025-12-30 |access-date=2025-06-29 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> could qualify while rest of the participants failed at the [[Night-vision device|night vision mounting system]] criteria. The Ministry again cancelled the tender due to single vendor situation.<ref name="AQ" />

Another global [[request for information]] (RFI) was launched in 2017. The pre-[[Request for proposal|tender]] documents issued a requirement for around 2 [[lakh]] carbines while the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD) cleared a Fast Track Procurement (FTP) for 93,895 carbines in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-02-13 |title=Procurement of Assault Rifles and LMGS |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1564239 |access-date=2025-06-21 |work=[[Press Information Bureau]] |quote=During 2018, Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procurement of Assault Rifles, LMGs and CQB carbines through Fast Track Procedure (FTP) under ‘Buy-Global’ category as well as AoNs for procurement of LMG and CQB carbine under ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ category have been accorded by Defence Acquisition Council (DAC).}}</ref> An estimation of an overall requirement of 5 lakh carbines was estimated.<ref name="AQ" /> In September 2018, [[Caracal International|Caracal]] was selected as the lowest bidder against [[Thales Australia]] under the FTP. Further contract negotiations was expected for over three months while the deliveries were to be completed within a year following the signing of the contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-29 |title=US-made rifle, UAE carbine to equip Indian Army soldiers |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/us-made-rifle-uae-carbine-to-equip-indian-army-soldiers-1352324-2018-09-29 |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> However, the contract for [[CAR 816]] was formally cancelled in September 2020 due to overpricing concerns and as the DRDO and the Indian industry wanted to take part in such a tender.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Philip |first=Snehesh Alex |date=2020-09-15 |title=Govt plans to scrap 2 defence deals under foreign procurement, could go 'atma nirbhar' way |url=https://theprint.in/defence/govt-plans-to-scrap-2-defence-deals-under-foreign-procurement-could-go-atma-nirbhar-way/503522/ |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 23 September 2022, the defence ministry issued a new [[request for information]] (RFI) to procure [[5.56×45mm NATO]]-compatible Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines for the [[Indian Army]] and the [[Indian Navy]]. On 29 November 2022, the ministry released [[Request for proposal|Request for Proposal]] (RfP) for the procurement after the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was received from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). The requirement was for 425,213 carbines (418,455 for the Army and 6,758 for the Navy). The order would be split between the two of the lowest bidders, with the lowest bidder securing L1 delivering 255,128 units and second lowest bidder L2 delivering 170,085 units. The carbine must weigh within the range of 3-3.5 kg and must have a range of more than 200 m and a cyclic rate of firing 600 rounds/min. The procurement was under Buy 'Indian' category which mandates the design to have over 60% indigenous content.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 September 2022 |title=POST-AoN INFORMATION: 5.56 x 45MM CQB CARBINE |url=https://www.mod.gov.in/sites/default/files/AoNCarbine.pdf |access-date=6 June 2024 |website=mod.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Can the Govt's Latest Effort to Acquire Crucial Carbines Pay Off After Multiple Failed Attempts? |url=https://thewire.in/security/can-the-govts-latest-effort-to-acquire-crucial-carbines-pay-off-after-multiple-failed-attempts |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=thewire.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-08 |title=UAE based Caracal back in race, responds to Indian Army tenders |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-uae-based-caracal-back-in-race-responds-to-indian-army-tenders-2791102/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref>

As of June 2024, 15 vendors were competing for the contract and summer trials of the products were underway with winter trials expected later the same year.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Team |first=IADN Editorial |date=2024-06-04 |title=India conducts trials for a mega tender of 4.25 lakh carbines - IADN |url=https://iadnews.in/india-conducts-trials-for-a-mega-tender-of-4-25-lakh-carbines/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=- IADN |language=en-GB}}</ref> In June 2025, the DRDO-Bharat Forge's Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbine had emerged as the lowest bidder for the tender. The carbines would be manufactured by [[Bharat Forge#Kalyani Strategic Systems|Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited]] (KSSL)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |title=Kalyani Strategic Systems secures majority share in Indian Army's ₹2,800 cr carbine tender |url=https://manufacturing.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/aerospace-defence/kalyani-strategic-systems-secures-majority-share-in-indian-armys-2800-cr-carbine-tender/123226932 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=ETManufacturing.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |number=1936114039442059731 |user=DefenceDecode |title=India's Bharat Forge Ltd is set to supply 4.5Lakh DRDO(#ARDE) designed carbines to the Indian Army under a landmark contract... |date=2025-06-20 |access-date=2025-06-21}}</ref> in its [[Khed City]] or [[Jejuri]] facility, both near [[Pune]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=Indian Army's Close-Quarter Battle Carbine Procurement Saga Poised to End with KSSL and Adani Deals |url=https://thewire.in/security/army-close-quarter-battele-carbine-procurement-kssl-adani-jeet-machine-gun |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250815123154/https://thewire.in/security/army-close-quarter-battele-carbine-procurement-kssl-adani-jeet-machine-gun |archive-date=2025-08-15 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=The Wire |language=en}}</ref> Meanwhile, [[Adani Defence]] became the L2 bidder and is expected to deliver its [[IWI Galil ACE#Indian variant|Adani Jeet]], a derivative of [[IWI Galil ACE|IWI Galil ACE-N 21]] design,<ref name=":0" /> from its [[Gwalior]] facility through its subsidiary [[PLR Systems]].<ref name=":6" /> The contracts would be worth {{INRConvert|1700|c|lk=on|year=2025}} and {{INRConvert|1100|c|lk=|year=2025}}, respectively.<ref name=":0" />

The contracts, with a combined worth of {{INRConvert|2770|c|lk=|year=2025}}, was signed on 30 December 2025.<ref name=":11">{{Cite press release |title=MoD inks Rs 4,666 crore contracts for Close Quarter Battle Carbine & Heavy Weight Torpedoes |date=2025-12-30 |publisher=[[Press Information Bureau]] |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2209832&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2025-12-30}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |date=2025-12-30 |title=MoD to sign CQB contract with BF and Adani Defence |url=https://chakranewz.com/critical-technologies/mod-to-sign-cqb-contract-with-bf-and-adani-defence |access-date=2025-12-30 |website=chakranewz |language=en}}</ref>

==Design==

The gun has an [[Effective range#Weapons|effective range]] of {{Convert|200|m|abbr=on}}, weight of {{Convert|3.3|kg|abbr=on}} and supports a 30-round [[Magazine (firearms)|magazine]] compatible with both NATO-standard and [[INSAS rifle|INSAS]] ammunition.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-06-25 |title=DRDO-Bharat Forge develops an assault rifle lighter than a kitchen pressure cooker, built for urban warfare |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/drdo-bharat-forge-develops-an-assault-rifle-lighter-than-a-kitchen-pressure-cooker-built-for-urban-warfare/articleshow/122068781.cms |access-date=2025-06-26 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

==Operators==


===Future===
'''{{flag|India}}'''
* {{Army|India}}: On order.<ref name=":11" />
* {{Navy|India}}: On order.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":1" />

== See also ==
* [[INSAS rifle]]
* [[AK-203]]
* [[SIG 516|SIG 716i]]
* [[IWI Galil ACE#Indian variant|Adani Jeet]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{AK-47 derivatives}}
{{Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)}}
{{Current Indian infantry weapons}}

[[Category:5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles]]
[[Category:Defence Research and Development Organisation]]
[[Category:Assault rifles of India]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in the 21st century]]
[[Category:Kalashnikov derivatives]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 2026]]
[[Category:Post–Cold War weapons of India]]

DRDO Close Quarter Battle carbine - Revision history

Shamimulislam at 06:45, 28 April 2026