200 CSR 338 sniper rifles will soon be provided to India’s Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) thanks to a defense contract given to Icomm-Caracal, a collaboration between Caracal, based in Abu Dhabi, and Icomm Tele Ltd, a division of Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) in Hyderabad. Under the government’s Make in India campaign, the agreement represents a significant step toward localizing the production of sophisticated small guns.
The CSR 338 sniper rifle is a high-performance precision weapon made to meet the demands of contemporary warfare and long-range conflict. The CRPF gets improved operational capability and deterrence by being armed with these weapons, particularly in counter-insurgency and internal security operations. The contract reinforces the government’s commitment to providing modern, domestically produced weapons to the central forces instead of relying on imports.
The rifles will be manufactured at Hyderabad’s Icomm Caracal Small Arms Complex, which opened its doors in April 2025. This plant was established as a domestic manufacturing hub that can produce a wide variety of small arms for export to other countries in addition to rifles for the Indian security services. The facility’s dual functions of exporting and domestic supply put it in a position to be a key component of India’s defense-industrial expansion.
Advanced manufacturing techniques and technology transfer are brought straight to India through Caracal’s partnership with Icomm. This implies that the CSR 338 rifles will be produced domestically under international quality control standards rather than being simple assembly components. The initiative will strengthen India’s capacity to develop sovereign defense capabilities while also assisting in the creation of high-quality defense sector jobs in Hyderabad, according to Sumanth Paturu, Director of Icomm Tele Ltd.
This agreement goes beyond just providing 200 rifles. It establishes the groundwork for future collaboration in the production of modern weapons, export possibilities, and the advancement of Indian workers’ skills. The cooperation gives India access to one of the most cutting-edge defense ecosystems in the world, hence bolstering bilateral India-UAE defense ties. Caracal is a member of the UAE’s EDGE Group, one of the fastest-growing defense conglomerates.
By the fourth quarter of 2025, the CRPF is expected to get the first shipment of CSR 338 sniper rifles made in India. The CRPF will be able to take advantage of the newest sniper technology for improved tactical and operational capabilities in internal security and counterterrorism operations thanks to this prompt introduction.
