Indian Navy To Procure Heavy Machine Guns

The Indian navy plans to buy heavy machine guns (HMG) for its marine assets, including ships and rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB).

The service, which has issued a request for information (RFI), says the HMGs will provide fire support for combat operations, including asymmetric warfare, assisting in the destruction of lightly protected targets. The HMGs are to be used from vehicles, RHIBs and in ground roles.

According to the specifications in the RFI, the HMGs must have a minimum effective range of 1,800 meters (5,900 ft.). The navy wants each barrel to last for a minimum of 10,000 rounds fired, with a minimum firing rate of 450 rounds per min. The RFI also specifies that the HMGs must be low-signature, and should carry a flash suppressor to enable this feature. The service also wants the weapon to have optical sighting features, including cooled thermal imaging capabilities.

The procurement plans for HMGs come at a time when the navy is actively involved in anti-piracy operations. The threat of pirates off Indian waters has put the navy and the Indian coast guard on alert, with both opting for high-speed patrol vessels.

Question arises that a country building Aircrafts like Tejas, frigates, missiles etc cannot build a machine-gun. Is our defense establishment top heavy, with no basic infrastructure. Or is it something else may be it starts with a "C"