The handover ceremony took place at Adani’s small arms manufacturing complex in Gwalior. The trucks carrying the first batch were flagged off by A. Anbarasu, Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition) in the Defence Ministry, in the presence of Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO of Adani Defence and Aerospace. Their presence highlighted the close coordination between the government and the private sector in strengthening India’s defence capabilitieWhat makes this delivery particularly notable is its timing. The company completed the shipment 11 months ahead of schedule, demonstrating faster-than-expected execution. According to Rajvanshi, the project began nearly six years ago with the bid submission, even though the original programme timeline stretched beyond seven years. He added that the company expects to complete the full order within the next three years.
sRajvanshi also stressed that the project is not just about supplying weapons—it is about building long-term manufacturing capability in India. Over the years, Adani Defence has transformed itself from a component supplier into a full-scale original equipment manufacturer (OEM), capable of producing a wide range of small arms including assault rifles, pistols, carbines, sniper systems, and light machine guns.
The Gwalior facility plays a central role in this effort. It has the capacity to produce up to 100,000 firearms annually and uses Industry 4.0 manufacturing systems to maintain strict quality standards. The company claims defect and rejection rates are kept below 0.5 percent, reflecting the precision and automation of the production process.
From the government’s side, Anbarasu praised the speed and scale at which the project was executed, saying such performance is essential to strengthening India’s defence ecosystem. He also noted that the Defence Acquisition Procedure is being continuously updated to ensure that procurement systems remain responsive to operational needs.
The Prahar light machine gun itself is based on the internationally proven Negev NG7 platform developed by Israel Weapon Industries, Adani’s technology partner in the programme. The collaboration is being carried out through the PLR joint venture, which ensures that local production continues smoothly even if external supply chains face disruptions.
Technically, the weapon is designed for reliability in demanding combat conditions. It uses an open-bolt, gas-operated system with a rotating bolt mechanism. The gun has a 508 mm barrel and an overall length of about 1,000 mm, which can be reduced to 820 mm when the stock is folded—making it suitable for paratroopers and mobile infantry units. Weighing around 7.6 kg without a magazine, it is lighter than many comparable machine guns, giving soldiers better mobility on the battlefield.
Overall, this delivery represents more than just the arrival of new weapons—it signals the growing maturity of India’s private defence manufacturing sector. By delivering ahead of schedule and maintaining high production standards, Adani Defence has set a strong benchmark for future domestic defence contracts and reinforced India’s broader goal of becoming self-reliant in military hardware.
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