CARACAL Vows to Manufacture Army-Grade Carbines Locally for India
CARACAL, a globally acclaimed small arms producer based in the UAE, emphasized in a statement “its dedication to the ‘Make in India’ initiative”, having been previously chosen by the Indian Ministry of Defense in 2018 to expedite the delivery of 93,895 CAR 816 assault rifles to the Indian Army.
CARACAL has already pinpointed the necessary land, facilities, and local collaborators to initiate production without delay. More than 20% of the parts installed on the CAR 816 are presently manufactured in India, with CARACAL now pledging to completely fabricate the rifles domestically, in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative. This initiative will also enable CARACAL to manage technology transfer.
The organization has already outperformed international contenders regarding performance and technical specifications to secure the bid two years prior, and now affirms its preparedness to fulfill the expedited order from India within a year.
Hamad Al Ameri, Chief Executive Officer of CARACAL, stated: “CARACAL was granted the Close-Quarter Carbine contract in 2018 to deliver the CAR 816 to the Indian Army after undergoing a stringent selection process. Acknowledging the urgency of the supply and with formalities still in negotiation, we wish to reaffirm our dedication to our proposal and the ‘Make in India’ initiative. With robust bilateral relations between our nations, and India representing a crucial market for CARACAL, we are prepared to deliver the product to the client upon request.”
The CAR 816 carbines are designed to replace the Indian Army’s existing 9mm Sterling carbines, with the CAR 816 featuring superior bullet speed and lighter weight compared to the Sterling carbines. The assault rifle has secured numerous contracts from clients across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, and has been customized to meet the Indian Army’s requirements, integrating the latest technological advancements.
CARACAL is a member of the Missiles & Weapons division within EDGE, an innovative technology consortium for defense and beyond, and has wholly owned subsidiaries in Germany and the USA.
