INSAS

Development of the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) commenced in the mid-1980s under the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune. The project was initiated to replace the Indian Army's self-loading rifles with a domestic design. Design and user trials concluded by 1989, and the weapon entered service in 1990. The Ordnance Factories Board started mass production of the rifle and light machine gun variants in 1997. The system was first displayed during the 1998 Republic Day parade.

The INSAS utilizes a gas-operated long-stroke piston and a rotating bolt assembly, a mechanism based on the AKM. It features a chrome-plated bore with six-groove rifling and a manual gas regulator similar to the FN FAL, which includes a gas cutoff for launching rifle grenades. The charging handle is positioned on the left side of the receiver, similar to the HK33. The fire selector is located on the left side above the pistol grip, providing settings for semi-automatic and three-round burst. Furniture is constructed from wood or polymer, with polymer components sharing design similarities with the IMI Galil. Feeding is provided by translucent polymer box magazines. The weapon includes a bayonet mount and a flash suppressor compatible with NATO-specification grenades. Modernization components include Picatinny rails and folding stocks.

The system served as the standard infantry weapon for the Indian Armed Forces for approximately three decades. Initial combat deployment occurred during the 1999 Kargil War, where the weapon encountered technical issues including polymer magazine failure in sub-zero temperatures and inconsistencies in the fire selector. The family includes the standard assault rifle, available in subvariants 1A, 1A1, 1B, and 1B1, as well as a Light Machine Gun (LMG) variant equipped with a bipod and a heavier barrel. Other developments include the Kalantak micro-assault rifle and the Excalibur. Outside of India, the weapon has been adopted by the Royal Bhutan Army, the Nepalese Army, and the Royal Army of Oman. It remains in use with Indian paramilitary and state police forces, while frontline military units are transitioning to the AK-203, SIG 716i, and IWI Negev.