INSAS 5.56 mm

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Insas
Insas Assault Rifle (Fixed butt)
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	India
Service history
In service	1997—
Used by	India, Nepal
Wars	Kargil War
Production history
Manufacturer	Ordinance Factory Board, Ishapore
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	3.2 kg (7.0 lb) (empty)
Length	945 mm, 750 mm stock folded

Cartridge	5.56 x 45 mm NATO, 5.56X45 mm SS109 Special
Action	Gas-operated, Rotating bolt
Rate of fire	650 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	900 m/s
Effective range	500 m
Feed system	20/30-round detachable box magazine

INSAS stands for Indian Small Arms System. It is a family of infantry arms consisting of an assault rifle, a light machine gun and a carbine. It is manufactured by the Indian State Ordnance Factory Board at its Ishapore factory.

Since late 1950s, Indian armed forces were equipped with 7.62 mm NATO L1A1 self-loading rifles, which were licensed copies of the famous Belgian FN FAL rifle. As the 7.62 mm self-loading rifles started to become obsolete by the 1980s, India began to develop the INSAS with incorporated features from several popular foreign designs. Although largely based on the ever-popular AK-47, the INSAS has a number of differences making it a unique weapon. It has features borrowed from the FN FNC, the AK-74, the Galil and the G3.

The INSAS system was originally planned to have three component weapons: a standard rifle, a carbine, and a squad automatic rifle (LMG), all chambered for 5.56 x 45 NATO ammunition. In 1997 the rifle and LMG were ready for mass production, and in 1998 the first units were observed on an Independence Day parade armed with INSAS rifles. The mass introduction of the INSAS rifle was initially delayed by the lack of the domestically made 5.56 mm ammunition and India accordingly bought significant stocks of ammunition from the Israeli IMI company. At least 300,000 INSAS rifles are in service with the Indian army; some of these have seen action in Indo-Pakistani conflicts.

In the assault rifle version it has semi-auto and 3-round burst modes much like the US M16A2. Derived from the INSAS weapon systems, the INSAS Excalibur Mark-I is ergonomically designed with a folding butt and can fire 20- and 30-round magazines. It is also fitted with a Picatinny rail for mounting of opto-electronic devices. The INSAS Excalibur variant, to be used by the Special forces, has Semi-automatic and full automatic fire modes.

The INSAS rifle is broadly based on the famous Kalashnikov AK-47 action, but with many modifications. The basic gas-operated action with long stroke gas piston and a rotating bolt, as well as the stamped steel receiver, are generally the same as in modern Kalashnikov rifles. However, the gas system is fitted with a manual gas regulator, similar in design to that found on FN FAL rifles, as well as a gas cutoff. The charging handle has been moved from the bolt carrier to the left side of the forearm; it is similar in position and design to German HK G3 rifle. The selector / safety switch is located at the left side of the receiver, above the pistol grip, and allows for single shots and three round bursts. The rifle is fitted with a side-folding carrying handle, and either a solid or side-folding metal buttstock. Furniture can be made from wood or polymer. Standard magazines are made from semi-translucent polymer and contain 20 rounds. Longer 30-round magazines of similar design are available for the INSAS LMG but can also be used in the rifle. The sights consist of a hooded front, mounted on top of the gas block, and a diopter rear, mounted on the receiver cover. The flash suppressor is shaped to accept NATO-standard rifle grenades. INSAS rifles can be fitted with AKM-style multipurpose knife-bayonets.

Under-barrel grenade launchers and bayonets have been developed for the INSAS Rifle, which are also compatible with the AK-47s used by paramilitary forces.

These rifles have been exported to the neighbouring kingdom of Nepal. Although other parties have shown some interest, none have yet come forward to purchase. The INSAS rifle was sold at a highly discounted rate to the government of Nepal, and many more given as military aid to combat the Maoist insurgency in that country. Some sources claim that around 100,000 weapons were exported to Nepal as part of this agreement. After King Gyanendra seized power, and the relations between India and Nepal cooled, with India refusing Military aid, there were reports that the rifle malfunctioned in a gunbattle with the Maoists, leading to the loss of men. However, this was refuted by the Indian Embassy, and trials conducted later before the RNA showed that the rifle was satisfactory, and that the malfunction had been due to poor handling and cleaning of the rifle by the soldiers.

The INSAS rifle saw combat with Indian soldiers during the 1999 Kargil conflict with Pakistan. Quoting the Times of India newspaper [1], the rifle had some reliability problems in the very cold climate in which that conflict took place. Due to the cold weather, the rifle would jam occasionally and the polymer magazines would crack in the cold. There were also cases wherein the rifle would fire in full auto, while in three-round burst fire mode. According to the manufacturers, these problems have now been fixed.