While most people over here are contemplating that OFB has designed a 7.62x51 rifle for Indian army ,there is a high probability that they have collaborated with an Indian company(which has collaborated with a foreign company) and therefore offering a "foreign rifle" to the RFP issued by the Indian army.
They must have feared that in case of some other rifle being selected the production would be transferred to the Indian private firm(collaborating with the foreign company) .So,they decided to collaborate with an Indian firm to remain in the race to be able to produce the rifles and ammunition themselves.
However,it could be possible that in absence of any company responding to their RFI ,they have gone ahead with their own design .Let's wait and watch.
The RFI issued by them:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...11-16.pdf&gws_rd=cr&ei=sfuKWIa8MMWFvQSXkZbYAw
Important parts:
This EOI is being issued for selection of partner for collaboration agreement for
production and supply of 7.62x51mm Assault Rifle .
The interested prospective collaborators shall approach OFB to ensure their response with details. The response shall necessarily be accompanied with details on company background, technical features/product performance preservation with capabilities, product catalogue, reference list, financial performance and other enclosures as required under the present EOI.
Interested prospectives are required to submit 2 Nos. of 7.62x51mm Assault Rifles as advance returnable samples on No Cost No Commitment basis for internal evaluation.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) shall be signed with the selected prospective collaborator before submission of bid against RFP to Indian Army / MoD. The licnese & technology collaboration agreement and the Supply Agreement shall be entered into with the selected prospective collaborator after receipt of contract by OFB from MoD.
The last date for receipt of responses is 09/12/2016. Your response may be sent to the following address.
PART – I:
Eligible vendor/OEMs have to supply the World Class Assault Rifle with calibre 7.62x51mm. The Assault Rifle should be light weight, accurate and able to hit the target at a distance of not less than 500m. The Rifle should be able to work in all environmental condition and geographical terrain.
PART - II
Qualitative Requirement of 7.62x51mm Assault Rifle OFB seeks a 7.62x51mm Assault Rifle with adequate lethality to achieve the objective of ‘Shoot to Kill’ with the following board Characteristics: a) Effective Range: Minimum 500 meters.
b) Lethality: Adequate lethality at ranges up to minimum 500 meters in terms of wound profile, energy transfer and penetration.
c) Recoil: The recoil should be duly optimized to provide maximum comfort to the firer and shoot consistently with accuracy.
d) Accuracy: The Rifle should be capable of achieving accuracy better than 3 MoA up to a range of minimum 500 meters.
e) Reliability: The Rifle shall be reliable in its operation as per international standards for reliability.
f) Modular design.
g) Capable of fitting and firing of Indian in-service UBGL manufactured by Ordnance Factory Trichy.
h) Compatibility with all modern sights and accessories and provision for mounting the same.
i) In terms of design, metallurgy and performance parameters, the Rifle and Sight shall be ‘State of the Art’ in order to remain relevant for next 25 to 30 years.
j) The Rifle shall be capable of providing the desired performance across all spectrums of employment in the Indian terrain and climatic conditions.
k) The Rifle shall comply with the laid down MIL standards and other International standards in vogue.
