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.
