The Indian Army was forced to buy a gun they did not want from a government owned factory. They have been trying to replace it ever since. They have finally been given the funds to replace the INSAS rifle/carbine.

The Ministry of Defence has issued a tender for the import of 66,000 5.56 mm assault rifle for an estimated $250 million (Rs 13,000 crore) to replace the locally-designed Indian Small Arms System 5.56 mm AR, which the army has reluctantly employed since the mid-1990s.

…

“The INSAS AR is a non-competitive weapon system and the army became a tied customer with little choice but to pay the asking price however high it might be and whatever operational objections it had to the rifle,” a senior Infantry officer admitted.

The Indian government has a bad reputation when it comes to arms tenders. They tend to disqualify contestants whenever it suits then.

[ Many thanks to Tim for emailing us the link. ]