INSAS
| INSAS | |
|---|---|
|
|
| general information | |
| Country of operation: | India, Nepal |
| Developer / Manufacturer: | Indian State Ordnance Factory Board |
| Manufacturer country: | India |
| Production time: | since 1997 |
| Weapon Category: | Assault rifle |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 960 mm |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 4.15 kg |
| Barrel length : | 464 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | 5.56 × 45 mm NATO |
| Possible magazine fillings : | 20 or 30 cartridges |
| Cadence : | 650 rounds / min |
| Fire types: | Single , continuous fire |
| Number of trains : | 6th |
| Twist : | right |
| Closure : | Turret lock |
| Charging principle: | Gas pressure charger |
| Lists on the subject | |
INSAS ( Indian National Small Arms System ) is the name for a family of handguns from India . Both the assault rifle and the machine gun variant belong to the equipment of the Indian armed forces .
technology
The weapon is essentially based on the Soviet Kalashnikov , but has been extensively modified. In contrast to the Kalashnikov, the INSAS has a gas pressure regulator. The gas channel can also be completely blocked for firing rifle grenades . The cocking handle and the combined safety and fire selector lever have been moved to the left side of the housing. The fuse is located directly above the pistol grip. In the basic version you can choose between single fire or 3-shot burst. Ammunition in NATO caliber 5.56 mm is fired. Due to the use of transparent plastic, the cartridge level in the magazine is easy to see.
commitment
India switched to small-caliber high - speed ammunition relatively late . The new weapon system was introduced towards the end of the 1990s and has since gradually replaced the previously used FN FAL rifles in troop service. The first problems arose when it was first used during the Kargil War in 1999. Under the harsh conditions and extremely low temperatures in high-mountain battles, parts of the weapon broke, and some of the rifles turned out to be not robust enough. After the construction had been improved, the equipment of the Indian troops was continued. Around 600,000 copies had been delivered by 2003.
Larger numbers are also used in Nepal . However, the country received rifles at sharply reduced prices, so that these deliveries were more of a military aid than an export deal. The weapons were intended to support Nepalese government troops in their fight against Maoist rebels. But here too the reliability left a lot to be desired. The Royal Nepalese Army stated that prolonged exchanges of fire would cause the weapons to overheat and no longer function properly. Because of this, some of their soldiers are said to have died. India denied these allegations, stating that the INSAS rifles were reliable and that the problems were due to improper handling and lack of maintenance.
Oman and India signed a mutual arms treaty in 2003. In which Oman intended to test the INSAS among other things. When the tests, which were mainly aimed at the ability to function in sand and at high temperatures, were completed by 2005, a final contract was signed in the same year and the weapons were started to be delivered to the armed forces of Oman .
variants
- INSAS rifle: standard version, single fire or 3-shot burst
- MINSAS carbine: short command version
- INSAS-IMG: light machine gun, with heavy barrel and bipod, continuous fire option
- Excalibur: light version with folding stock , automatic fire option
Individual evidence
- ^ The Times of India: Ordnance Board set to target market with revamped rifle
- ↑ BBC: Nepal complains about Indian guns
- ^ Oman army all set to use India's INSAS rifles. (No longer available online.) In: Hindustan Times. HT Media Limited, April 22, 2010, formerly in the original ; accessed on September 11, 2011 . ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )
- ^ India to Sell Small Arms to Oman. ( Memento from April 9, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
