'Ugram': DRDO launches indigenous assault rifle for armed forces

Ugram, a state-of-the-art assault rifle of the 7.62 x 51 mm calibre, was launched by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Monday.

Ugram, which means ferocious, has been developed and manufactured in collaboration with a private firm. It is designed for the operational requirements of armed forces, paramilitary and state police forces, The Indian Express reported.

Dr Shailendra V Gade, Director General, Armament and Combat Engineering Systems of the DRDO, unveiled the first operational prototype of the assault rifle in Pune.

DRDO’s Pune-based facility Armament Research and Development Establishments (ARDE) has developed the rifle along with Hyderabad-based Dvipa Armour India Private Limited.

Ugram weighs less than four kilograms and has an effective range of 500 metres. It has been designed based on the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQRs) of the Indian Army, according to ARDE scientists.

Having a 20-round magazine, the rifle has a rivet-free design and is capable of firing in both single as well as full auto mode.

In December, the Defence Acquisition Council had given a nod to procure 70,000 US-made SIG Sauer assault rifles of the same calibre for the armed forces in India. More than ₹800 crore was given for the project.

Before getting inducted, the Ugram assault rifle will have to pass multiple internal tests and user trials.

The project was taken up in a mission mode two years ago, ARDE Director Ankathi Raju said.

“After the ARDE designed the rifle, we started looking for a private industry partner for development and manufacturing. Simultaneously, we started working on its hardware through our sources. We have followed the concept of Development cum Production Partner, DcPP for the speedy progress of the project. Under this, the vendor is associated with us during the design and production too. After the product is made by the vendor, it will undergo the acceptance trials," The Indian Express quoted Raju as saying.

During its trial, a set number of rounds will be fired from the Ugram assault rifle without stoppage, thereafter its accuracy and consistency checks will be held. Moreover, it will be tested at various weather and geographic conditions.

For the acceptance procedure, a board of army officers will be constituted, according to the ARDE Director. He added that if any non-compliances are found during the tests, then they will address them at a specific time and the trials will be redone.

“Before these trials, we also conduct our internal trials at our own small arms testing facility. While the process of design and design-related analysis started two years ago, the development in collaboration with the private vendor was completed in 100 days,” Raju was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, G Ram Chaitanya Reddy, Director of Dvipa Armour India, said that there is a “major shortfall of assault rifles in India.”

“The AK-203 project has not taken off because of the Russia-Ukraine war and PLR is supplying weapons to the Israel Weapon Industries because of the Israel-Hamas conflict. So, this window of opportunity has come up. Three months ago, in October 2023, we received the order. And we have successfully given five prototypes. We believe this is the fastest development of a weapon anywhere in the world,” the report quoted Reddy as saying.