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Asmi
Asmi 9mm submachine gun
TypeSubmachine gun
Machine pistol
Place of originIndia
Service history
In service2024-present
Production history
DesignerLt. Colonel Prasad Bansod
Designed2020
ManufacturerLokesh Machines Limited
Unit costest. ₹50,000 (US$600)
Specifications
Mass1.7–2 kg (3.75–4.41 lb) (empty)
Length
  • 382 mm (stock folded)
  • 612 mm (stock extended)[1]
Barrel length
  • 7.2-inch (180 mm)
  • 6.5-inch (170 mm)
Cartridge9×19mm Parabellum
ActionStraight blowback
Rate of fire600 rounds/min[2]
Effective firing range100 m
Feed system33 round Glock magazine
SightsReflex sight[3]

The ASMI (short for Asmita) is an Indian submachine gun. It was designed and developed in 2020 by the Armament Research and Development Establishment of DRDO.[4][5][6]

ASMI is derived from the Sanskirt word Asmita, which means pride, self-respect, and hard work.[7][6]

Background

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The ASMI was designed as a replacement for the 1A Carbine, India's domestically produced copy of the Sterling submachine gun, which has been in service since the 1960s. Alongside the 1A, India is also somewhat reliant on imported submachine guns, such as the Brügger & Thomet MP9, Heckler & Koch MP5 and Uzi.[5] The ASMI will serve as a cheaper alternative to imports, with an Asmi costing only a third as much as an MP5.[8] In the 2000s, the DRDO developed the Modern Sub Machine Carbine to attempt to replace the 1A, but it failed to meet the military's requirements.

ASMI, which means "pride, self respect and hard work", was first showcased in January 2021, and developed over the course of four months by Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Bansod,[9] who had previous experience reverse engineering an INSAS rifle to produce a bullpup carbine variant.[10] 3D printing was utilized to make parts of the gun.[11]

Design

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Unlike its predecessor, the Modern Sub Machine Carbine, the ASMI is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum,[11] a cartridge already in use in the Indian Army, giving it a major logistical advantage over the MSMC, whose round was purpose built for the design.

Similar to the Uzi, the Asmi is a straight blowback submachine gun with a side-folding stock, a low rate of fire, and its magazine is loaded inside of the pistol grip. The ASMI has two barrel configurations: 7.2-inch (180 mm) and 6.5-inch (170 mm) barrel, and has a weight of around 2 kilograms (4.4 lb).[12][13]

The upper receiver is made from aluminium, and the lower receiver is made from carbon fiber. The upper receiver has a full-length Picatinny rail, and there are M-LOK slots on the left and right side of the weapon.

Typical for a submachine gun, its main application is for close-quarters combat, where it can be used by heavy weapon detachments, tank and aircraft crews, drivers, and radio or radar operators.[14]

Manufacturing

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Indian Army showcasing ASMI to French soldier during Exercise Shakti

The ASMI is manufactured by Lokesh Machines Limited. It was showcased at the 7th edition of the International Police Expo in New Delhi on 6 July 2022 and DEFEXPO 2022.

In April 2024, Lokesh Machines has emerged as the L1 contender, beating the likes of PLR Systems and Jindal Defence, to clinch a contract to supply 550 9×19mm ASMI Submachine Pistols to the Para (Special Forces) of the Indian Army. The per unit cost of the gun is around ₹50,000 (US$600). The contract worth ₹46,010,250 (US$550,000) is particularly significant as it marks the first order for an indigenous small arm after the INSAS rifle.[15][16] The entire 550 guns were delivered to the Indian Army by 1 October 2024. The consignment was flagged off by Major General Rakesh Manocha, General Officer Commanding of the Telangana and Andhra sub-area.[17][18]

Operators

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References

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  1. ^ Technology Focus, Vol 29, Issue no:5 (October 2021). "Small arms and ammunition" (PDF). DRDO.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "India Introduces New Indigenous ASMI Submachine Gun". Overt Defense. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  3. ^ Technology Focus, Vol 29, Issue no:5 (October 2021). "Small arms and ammunition" (PDF). DRDO.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "DRDO's Pune facility and Army develop first indigenous 9mm machine pistol 'Asmi'". The Indian Express. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b "DRDO develops ASMI, India's first homegrown Uzi-style personal defence weapon". The Week. 13 January 2021. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b Arora, Sumit (20 June 2024). "Indian Army Inducts Indigenous ASMI Submachine Gun: A Pride in Atmanirbhar Bharat". adda247. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Meet Lt Col Prasad Bansod, Man behind India's First Indigenously Developed 9mm Machine Pistol". 11 May 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  8. ^ Unnithan, Sandeep (14 January 2021). "The Indian Army's 'General Kalashnikov' gives it a new 9 mm sub-machine gun". India Today. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  9. ^ Siddiqui, Huma (14 January 2021). "Meet Lt Col Prasad Bansod: Infantry School officer behind India's first indigenously Developed 9mm Machine Pistol". The Financial Express. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  10. ^ "DASMI - India's first indigenously developed 9mm Machine Pistol".
  11. ^ a b "India's First Indigenously Developed 9mm Machine Pistol". pib.gov.in. 14 January 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  12. ^ Technology Focus, Vol 29, Issue no:5 (October 2021). "Small arms and ammunition" (PDF). DRDO.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Army officer develops first indigenous 9 mm 'machine pistol". Archived from the original on 16 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Meet Indian Army's first 9 mm Machine Pistol ASMI". Guarding India. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Empowering India's Defence: The ASMI Revolution". Financialexpress. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  16. ^ Deepak Bhadana (6 April 2024). Subhajit Sankar Dasgupta (ed.). "Indigenisation of Indian defence sector gets a 1100 gun boost". News Nine.
  17. ^ a b "Lokesh Machines delivers first indigenous submachine guns to Indian Army". The Economic Times. 1 October 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Indian Army gets delivery of 1st indigenous submachine gun". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d "Submachine gun made by Hyderabad company set to be inducted by Army". The Times of India. 18 June 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  20. ^ "In self-reliance push, Army inducts indigenously developed 'Asmi' machine pistols". India Today. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Bharatshakti, Team (16 June 2024). "Indian Army Chooses Lokesh Machines' 'ASMI' Submachine Guns for Northern Command". Bharat Shakti. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
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