Sindhupv at 23:38, 20 February 2026

2026-02-20T23:38:45Z

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{{Infobox weapon
| name = Excalibur rifle
| image = Excalibur AR with red dot scope and bayonet.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = Excalibur rifle with red dot scope/bayonet.
| origin = India
| type = [[Assault rifle]]
| is_ranged = Yes
| service = 2017
| used_by =
| wars = 
| designer = 
| design_date = 2004
| manufacturer = [[Rifle Factory Ishapore]]
| production_date = 2012–present
| number = 20,000+<ref>{{cite news |url =http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=169881 | title = Assault Rifles |publisher =PIB India | date =11 August 2017 | access-date =2 August 2021 }}</ref>
| variants = 
| weight = {{convert|3.81|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (without magazine) <br />{{convert|4.03|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (with full magazine)<ref name="OFB INDIA"/>
| length = {{convert|895|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}<ref name="OFB INDIA"/>
| part_length = {{convert|400|mm|in|abbr=on}}<ref name="OFB INDIA"/>
| cartridge = [[5.56×45mm NATO]]
| action = [[Gas-operated]], [[rotating bolt]]
| rate = 650-700 rounds/min<ref name="OFB INDIA"/>
| velocity = {{convert| 900|m/s|0|lk=on|abbr=on}}
| range = 450m<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=137795|title=Excalibur Rifle 5.56mm|author=Press India Bureau|date=|work=pib.nic.in|accessdate=22 August 2016}}</ref>
| feed = 20/30-round detachable [[box magazine]]<ref name="OFB INDIA">{{cite web |url=http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/23.htm |title=Ordnance Factory Board |website=ofbindia.gov.in |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011230441/http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/23.htm |archive-date=11 October 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| sights = In-built [[iron sights]], [[Picatinny rails]] for mounting telescopic or night sights
}}

The '''Excalibur''' is an [[assault rifle]] derived from the [[INSAS rifle]], the standard rifle of the [[Indian Armed Forces]] and, to a lesser extent, the [[Indian Police Service]]. The Excalibur has many improvements over the INSAS rifle and was slated to replace it as the [[Indian Army]]'s standard assault rifle; however, the Indian Army put the replacement out to tender in September 2016.<ref name="ToI">{{Cite news |date=2016-09-28 |title=Once again, Army starts global hunt for a new-generation assault rifle |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/once-again-army-starts-global-hunt-for-a-new-generation-assault-rifle/articleshow/54553688.cms |access-date=2025-07-19 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Many police forces in India have procured the Excalibur in limited numbers.

It is manufactured by [[Ordnance Factory Board]] in [[Rifle Factory Ishapore]].<ref>{{cite news | url =https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Excalibur-rifle-awaits-certification-trials/article14475842.ece | title =Excalibur rifle awaits certification trials|first =Dinakar |last = Peri|location=[[NEW DELHI]] | date= 7 July 2016 |access-date =2 August 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224182040/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Excalibur-rifle-awaits-certification-trials/article14475842.ece|archivedate=2024-02-24|work=The Hindu}}</ref>

==History==
The Indian Army used the INSAS rifle from the late 1990s, and the rifle saw action during the [[Kargil War]]. The INSAS was said to be plagued with many reliability issues like cracking of the polymer magazines because of cold weather, oil being sprayed in the user's eyes and the rifle going into automatic mode when set on 3-round burst (the INSAS does not have an automatic mode).

From April 21 to 24, 2008, the Excalibur was shown at the Defence Services Asia convention.<Ref name="SAR">https://smallarmsreview.com/defence-services-asia-2008/</ref>

In November 2011, the Indian Army sent a [[request for proposal]] (RFP) to 34 vendors for 65,678 multi-calibre assault rifles for about {{currency|2,500|INR}} [[crore]] ({{currency|400|USD}} million).<ref name=global-tender>{{cite news|title=Army issues global tender for new assault rifles|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/army-issues-global-tender-for-new-assault-rifles_744679.html|accessdate=28 May 2014|newspaper=[[Zee News]]|date=30 November 2011}}</ref><ref name=five-cos>{{cite news|title=Five cos left in race to supply multi-calibre rifles to Army|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/five-cos-left-in-race-to-supply-multi-calibre-rifles-to-army-112112800433_1.html|accessdate=28 May 2014|newspaper=[[Business Standard]]|date=28 November 2012}}</ref> The tender also included a license to manufacture about 100,000 more rifles in India, with a total expenditure of the phasing out estimated at {{currency|5,500|INR}} [[crore]] ({{currency|900|USD}} million).<ref name=butter>{{cite news|title=Guns and Butter in Billion-dollar Arms Deal|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/the-big-story/story/20121001-billion-dollar-arms-deal-in-army-gun-manufacturers-759929-1999-11-29|access-date=28 May 2014|date=21 September 2012}}</ref> Similar tenders for a [[carbine]] and a [[light machine gun]] (LMG) were also issued.<ref name=weary-army>{{cite news|title=INSAS-weary army shops for new infantry arms|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/article1381326.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219001408/http://newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/article1381326.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 December 2012|accessdate=28 May 2014|newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=16 December 2012}}</ref> However, the Army sent a letter to the manufacturers on 15 June 2015, to notify them that the tender had been retracted.<ref name="ScrapTender">{{Cite web |date=2015-07-01 |title=Army scraps the world's largest assault rifle tender |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/army-tender-cancelled-multi-caliber-assault-rifles-279859-2015-06-30 |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=[[India Today]] |language=en}}</ref> In July 2015, it was reported that the INSAS may be replaced by the Modified INSAS rifle (MIR), which is based on the Excalibur. The decision was taken by General [[Dalbir Singh]], who wanted an indigenous rifle.<ref name="MadeinIndia">{{cite news|last=Unnithan|first=Sandeep|title=Exclusive: Made in India rifles to replace INSAS|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/assault-rifle-excalibur-drdo-dalbir-singh-indian-army-arde-280690-2015-07-05|work=Mail Today|date=5 July 2015|access-date=5 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605130612/https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/assault-rifle-excalibur-drdo-dalbir-singh-indian-army-arde-280690-2015-07-05|archive-date=5 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="JanesCancels">{{cite news|title=Indian Army cancels rifle, carbine tenders|url=http://www.janes.com/article/52818/indian-army-cancels-rifle-carbine-tenders|access-date=23 February 2016|work=[[Jane's Defence Weekly]]|date=7 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901050102/http://www.janes.com/article/52818/indian-army-cancels-rifle-carbine-tenders|archive-date=1 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

After cancelling the tender, the army decided to pursue the new Excalibur rifle developed by the [[Armament Research and Development Establishment|ARDE]] as a replacement for the older INSAS rifles.

On 3 July 2016, the Indian media reported that the Indian Army had rejected the Excalibur for its standard issue assault rifle as it did not match the requirements standard of the army.<ref name="ET">{{Cite news |last=Pandit |first=Rajat |date=2016-07-03 |title=Army hunts for lethal assault rifle, junks DRDO's Excalibur |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/army-hunts-for-lethal-assault-rifle-junks-drdos-excalibur/articleshow/53028957.cms |access-date=2025-07-19 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-07-03 |title=Army hunts for lethal assault rifle, junks DRDO's Excalibur |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Army-hunts-for-lethal-assault-rifle-junks-DRDOs-Excalibur/articleshow/53027875.cms |access-date=2025-07-19 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

In September 2016 the Indian Army announced that it was launching a tender for 185,000 7.62×51mm-caliber assault rifles.<ref name=ToI/> The Indian Army in October 2016 announced that Excalibur rifles will be adopted as an interim assault rifle until a suitable replacement is found.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=John |date=2016-10-27 |title=Dmilt.com - India; Army agrees to adopt Excalibur rifles – as interim solution {{!}} Asia {{!}} News |url=http://dmilt.com/asia/india-army-agrees-to-adopt-excalibur-rifles-as-interim-solution |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107160450/http://dmilt.com/asia/india-army-agrees-to-adopt-excalibur-rifles-as-interim-solution |archive-date=2016-11-07 |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=dmilt.com |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-07 |title=IA to induct Excalibur as interim assault rifle {{!}} IHS Jane's 360 |url=http://www.janes.com/article/65209/ia-to-induct-excalibur-as-interim-assault-rifle |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107160624/http://www.janes.com/article/65209/ia-to-induct-excalibur-as-interim-assault-rifle |archive-date=7 November 2016 |access-date=2024-03-05}}</ref>

In June 2017, the Excalibur was announced to have failed tests due to concerns about quality control and ineffective firepower.<ref>{{ cite news | url =https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-army-rejects-indigenously-made-rifles-for-second-year-in-a-row/story-7eE983qvZemyl8KQ8YgM3L.html | title =Indian Army rejects indigenously made rifles for second year in a row | date =21 June 2017 | access-date =2 August 2021 }}</ref>

==Design==
Design of the assault rifle first started in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111810/http://rfi.nic.in/Milestones.html|archivedate=2019-03-06|url=http://rfi.nic.in/Milestones.html |title=Important Milestones |publisher=Rfi.nic.in |date= |accessdate=2018-04-15}}</ref>

===Prototype===
The prototype incorporates a direct gas-tapping angle to reduce the recoil. The rifle would have automatic and single shot modes. The three-round burst mode of the INSAS has been dropped. The rifle would have a folding butt and a standard [[Picatinny rail]]. By September 2015, it had passed the water and mud tests, which four of the foreign rifles in the tender competition had failed. It was also reported 200 rifles were being manufactured and that prototype would undergo formal trials in late 2015.<ref name="IndigenousExcalibur">{{cite news|title=Army prepares for crucial trials as chief insists on indigenous Excalibur|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/army-prepares-for-crucial-trials-as-chief-insists-on-indigenous-excalibur-115090300012_1.html|access-date=23 February 2016|work=[[Business Standard]]|date=3 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227001415/http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/army-prepares-for-crucial-trials-as-chief-insists-on-indigenous-excalibur-115090300012_1.html|archive-date=27 February 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Tests====
The MIR had two stoppages after firing 24,000 rounds, which was very close the army's specification of one stoppage.<ref name="MadeinIndia"/> It was also reported that another prototype of Excalibur, AR-2, was being prepared which would fire 7.62×39mm rounds.<ref name="MadeinIndia"/>

[[File:Excalibur rifle MK-2.jpg|thumb|center|220px|The Excalibur MK-II rifle (AR-2), 7.62×39mm variant.]]

===Final===
The final designs incorporated picatinny rails on the upper receiver with an improved design for the polycarbonate magazine.<ref name="JanesCancels"/>

==Operators==

;{{IND}}

* [[Assam Police]]<ref>{{cite news |url =https://www.guwahatiplus.com/article-detail/is-assam-police-prepared-for-counter-insurgency-operations | title = Is Assam police prepared for counter insurgency operations | last =Chanda | first =Rahul | date = 12 May 2018 | access-date =2 August 2021 }}</ref>
* Chhattisgarh Armed Force, [[Chhattisgarh Police]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Policeman on security duty at Chhattisgarh minister's bungalow shoots self, investigation underway |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-policeman-on-security-duty-at-chhattisgarh-minister-s-bungalow-shoots-self-investigation-underway-3077472 |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=DNA India |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Karnataka Police]]<ref>{{cite news |url =https://www.news18.com/news/india/karnataka-police-face-huge-weapon-shortage-says-cag-report-1814823.html |title =Karnataka Police Face Huge Weapon Shortage, Says CAG Report |date = 17 July 2018 |access-date = 2 August 2021 }}</ref>
* [[Manipur Police]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.manipurpolice.gov.in/?p=325|title = Manipur Police Training College – Official Website Manipur Police}}</ref>
* [[West Bengal Police]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Excalibur-muscle-for-Bengal-police/articleshow/53565435.cms|title=Excalibur muscle for Bengal police|author=The Times of India |date=6 August 2016|work=timesofindia.com|access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nyoooz.com/kolkata/563893/excalibur-muscle-for-bengal-police|title=Excalibur muscle for Bengal police|last=NYOOOZ|date=6 August 2016|work=nyoooz.com|accessdate=6 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821014353/http://www.nyoooz.com/kolkata/563893/excalibur-muscle-for-bengal-police|archive-date=21 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Failed Contracts===
* [[Indian Army]]<ref name="ET"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011230441/http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/23.htm |date=October 11, 2018|title=RIFLE EXCALIBUR 5.56 MM}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Ordnance Factories Board}}
{{Kalashnikov rifle}}

{{commons category|Excalibur (assault rifle)}}

[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 2017]]
[[Category:5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles]]
[[Category:Assault rifles of India]]

Excalibur rifle - Revision history

Sindhupv at 23:38, 20 February 2026