Lokesh Machines Completes Delivery of 550 'ASMI' Submachine Guns to Northern Command of Indian Army

In a significant boost to India's domestic defence manufacturing capabilities, Lokesh Machines Limited has successfully delivered its first major order of 550 "Asmi" 9x19 mm submachine guns (SMGs) to the Northern Command of the Indian Army.

This marks the first time a privately developed and manufactured SMG has been inducted into the Indian armed forces.

The consignment was formally flagged off on Monday by Major General Rakesh Manocha, General Officer Commanding Telangana and Andhra Sub Area, underscoring the importance of this achievement.

Lokesh Machines, traditionally known for its CNC machines, ventured into small arms manufacturing with the Asmi, developed in collaboration with the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, and the Indian Army.

"Asmi," meaning "pride" in Sanskrit, is a testament to Indian ingenuity. It outperformed internationally recognized SMGs like the Israeli Uzi and the German MP5 to secure this crucial order.

According to M Srinivas, Director of Lokesh Machines, the Asmi boasts a significant weight advantage, being 10-15% lighter than its global counterparts, weighing in at under 2.4 kg. This makes it a more agile and maneuverable weapon for soldiers.

Lokesh Machines has also supplied pilot lots of Asmi SMGs to other security forces, including the National Security Guard (NSG), Assam Rifles, and the Border Security Force (BSF), for evaluation. Further adoption by these forces would further solidify Asmi's position as a reliable and preferred weapon for India's security personnel.

 

[sanket]

Pvt players needs to move forward from Production to Inhouse Design R&D to established Themslves in Export Market Too.

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

Pvt players needs to move forward from Production to Inhouse Design R&D to established Themslves in Export Market Too.

It should be marketed in NRA gun convention in US.

 

[Radha Ramanan]

The NSG, para SF , marcos should be given these and put through the paces to really refine the gun. They will put them through mud , water ,dust, and then use them and give feed back. All fire arms like the fantastic HK mp5 went through some development before it became the standard of SF units all over the world

 

[GMR]

Pvt players needs to move forward from Production to Inhouse Design R&D to established Themslves in Export Market Too.

Will the acquisition of a product be 100% guaranteed after all investments & successful development by private R&D?

 

[M S Chatterji]

Good looking …… much better looking than UZi , MP5 etc. ….. let us see how well it operates in Indian Army hands.

 

[SK]

I hope that ASMI becomes the Std. SMG of Indian Security forces be it Military, Paramilitary, CAPFs or State Police Forces.

 

[Kira]

Good looking …… much better looking than UZi , MP5 etc. ….. let us see how well it operates in Indian Army hands.

Going by the looks alone,I still have a soft spot for MP7 and P90 over any other SMG. Uzi was always ugly to begin with, designed with utilitarian purpose alone.
ASMI is looker too, especially in that desert camo.

 

[Tls Mani]

Bigger quantity means cost per unit comes down & mass production for indigenous & export can be done

 

[Rajesh Patil]

Good looking …… much better looking than UZi , MP5 etc. ….. let us see how well it operates in Indian Army hands.

There was a much better looking carbene developed by DRDO to be compact and highly robust....called MSMC.
and now this...looks like the entire expertise of DRDO is about creating only SMGs....while terrorísts weild AK47s and M16s...rifles

 

[Sandeep]

This can certainly replace the current SMG that we use which is the 60 year old British sterling machine gun. Our military need a carbine and SMG as well but the problem is that the military over does on the tests and trials which many foreign guns have failed in themselves but are still in use. We have already developed the JVPC/MSMC gun using the MINSAS calibre ammunition which has performed very well, passed all tests and trials, can pierce body armour but no orders were given.

Hopefully they look at the ASMI and realise that it’s a brilliant gun which is very modern and functions very well. Now they just need to pass the army’s tests and trials in different weather conditions.