Anyway thx for pics. It shows we have developed 3 type of 5.56*45 rifles
MCIWS based on HK416
DRDO CQB Carbine based on SIG
INSAS IC based on AK/Galil
apart from less known bullpup INSAS, Kalantak, 2 trigger carbine etc
but Army only interested in imports.
Wonder what else we are developing in 7.62*51 Apart from upsized INSAS IC?
Would like to add my observation:
MCIWS is a kind of long stoke gas piston rifle in AR-15 mold. M-brakes are retained as in INSAS. It's large silhouette comparable to SCAR-H; plus it offers barrel change based on the caliber,
DRDO CQB Carbine: It is more like short barrel Galil than Sig 550. However, it has same M-brake and charging handle as in INSAS/SLR.
INSAS 1C: The design is more influenced by FN- FAL/SLR than AK/Galil (rather the gas system of AK). Otherwise, it shouldn't have lacked fully auto operation mode.
I had a lot of expectation when IA announced INSAS replacement program almost a decade back; but nothing good came out of it. Domestic solutions offered are hardly encouraging given the piecemeal changes they were offering over the INSAS which they intend to replace. In the mean time, the last decade has witnessed advent of tactical SF operations (like OBL compound raid, Iraq etc.) in which performance of rifles are tested to its extreme.
So, it's a bit harsh to blame the IA for interested in import. There is simply no decent product on offer! The contract for 7 lakhs AK-203 will be the end of any alternate indigenous development under DPSUs. May be it's a blessing in disguise. We may get improved AKs in shorter period of time rather than getting some nth iteration of overpriced INSAS with picattiny patches in decades. Because look at the pictures/videos of Joint military exercises (e.g. recent one going on with the US) and you will see a huge gap in terms of tactical equipment in our side. Ironically, these gaps can be filled easily because these tactical equipment don't cost much. I wish luck to the initiatives from private sector to provide some good local solutions for small firearms in future; till then you have to live & fight with the imported guns.