In a major boost to the defence calibre of India and further push to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative of the Central Government, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Army have jointly developed India’s first indigenous machine pistol.

Army’s Mhow-based infantry school and DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune have designed and developed the weapon.

This first ‘Made in India’ 9mm machine pistol has been named ‘Asmi’, which means pride, Self-Respect and Hard Work.

This first indigenously developed machine pistol will have a production cost below Rs 50 thousand each and has the capability of firing the in-service 9 mm ammunition.

“The machine pistol fires the in-service 9mm ammunition and sports an upper receiver made from aircraft-grade aluminium and lower receiver from carbon fibre,” the DRDO said in a statement.

“The machine pistol is likely to have production cost under Rs 50,000 each and has potential for exports,” the DRDO added.

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‘Asmi’ would be on offer as a replacement to the 9mm pistols that are in service in the defence forces.

‘Asmi’, a machine pistol has a firing range of 100 metres and falls under the same class and category as that of the ‘Uzi’ series guns, made in Israel.

Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry said that the weapon has huge potential in armed forces as a personal weapon for heavy weapon detachments, commanders, tank and aircraft crews, drivers and dispatch riders, radio or radar operators, for closed quarter battles, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations etc.

“This is also likely to find huge employability with the central and state police organisations, as well as VIP protection duties and policing,” the Defence Ministry said.

The weapon has an overall empty weight of less than 2 Kg and it features an 8-inch barrel along with 33 rounds high capacity magazine.