Defence and aerospace industry in India was at a nascent stage and there was a sense of optimism and purpose. A large number of big industry houses made a beeline for licenses and responded to multiple RFIs/RFPs after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a clarion call of Make in India soon after taking over the reigns

 

I joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) in the summer of 1987; I was 16 and just out of school. For a civilian like me, the magnificence of the Academy was awe-inspiring and my heart swell with pride that India could boast of an institute of such class. As I started my training and subsequent service, I came across multiple weapons and equipment, but rarely one with a tag that claimed, “Made in India”. That is what my eyes and heart were always on the lookout for.

After a fulfilling stint in the armed forces, I moved back to the civic street in the same year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the clarion call for ‘Make in India’. In my first non-army job interview, I was confronted with the question, “Where do you see yourself in five years from now?” The answer came immediately as if on the tip of my tongue, bursting at the seams to get out; “I want to be responsible enough to equip the Indian soldier with a Made in India weapon”. I truly believe that was the day my second innings started as.

 

 

Defence and aerospace industry in India was at a nascent stage and there was a sense of optimism and purpose. A large number of big industry houses made a beeline for licenses and responded to multiple RFIs/RFPs as an Indian Prime. The industry soon realised that this was a different ball game and needed big investments and patience. The final orders were far and few and with the government being the only user there was no alternate buyer indeed.

 

Col Ajay Soni (Retd) on PLR Systems response of Prime Minister’s call for Make in India

Programme v/s Product-Based Approach: The industry responded to the ‘Make in India’ call by waiting for a programme to be announced via its Request for Information (RfI). Subsequently, a technology partner found the Request for Proposal (RfP) responded to and participation in the trials with the foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) product began. The firm which wins the contract then goes on to establish the production line in India over a period of time. For the firm that participated but did not win the contract, more often than not, partners either go their separate ways or find fresh proposals to synergise.

We at Punj Lloyd Ltd did this differently. We decided that we want to find and introduce a world class product to the Indian Armed and Police Forces. Tie up and establish the production in India and then go and sell it to India. It was a much more cavalier approach but if you don’t believe in your product, why will the world?

Our search brought us to Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), a known name in the small arms industry with its products such as Tavor Assault Rifle, Galil Sniper Rifle, Uzi SMG and X-95 Micro Tavor already in service in India with the Indian security forces such as the revered Special Forces, Para battalions, CRPF, BSF and multiple state police. We decided to bring the manufacturing of these weapons closer home in India. It was a giant leap of faith, wherein we were committing ourselves without any firm orders.

A Joint Venture was formed in the October of 2015 which gave birth to PLR Systems Pvt Ltd. The team toiled hard to establish India’s first small arms manufacturing unit. Being the path bearer it has its own set of challenges. Small arms manufacturing can be a very sensitive subject, it is mandated with multiple licenses from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to states. But we put our head down and kept pursuing our objective and getting clearance after clearance, and in the process, we learnt plenty of procedures and checks which will hold us in good stead.

The plan was simple to imbibe the technology in three phases namely;

Phase 1: Component Manufacturing,

Phase 2: Sub Assembly Manufacturing

Phase 3: Full Product Assembly and Testing

Here, the role of our partners, IWI was instrumental. As a partner, they believed in PLR as much as we did, and were always supportive in sharing their invaluable knowledge. The plant took shape and was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, on May 4, 2017. The first component chosen was the bolt carrier, a critical pressure bearing part needing reasonable manufacturing expertise. PLR exported the first batch of bolt carriers in October 2017. Since then multiple thousand components and sub-assemblies of Negev LMG, Galil Ace Rifles, Uzi Pro SMG, MASADA and JERICHO pistols and X-95 (Micro Tavor) carbines are now being exported to Israel every month.

The next phase was the one the team was waiting for. After months of extensive training at Israel and India for the assembly, integration and testing of the weapons, we were finally ready. Our first orders from a state’s police were like the proverbial rain in the desert. It was in July 2019 that we delivered the first set of X-95 Micro Tavor to an Indian State Police and since then we have supplied our products to CAPF and other state police. I was able to fulfill my dream of putting a ‘Made in India’ weapon in the hands of our troops. Recently, came across a CISF soldier at the Vaishno Devi shrine holding an X-95 Assault Rifle with ‘Made in India’ stamped on it. I can hardly compare the feeling to anything but to the likes of seeing your first newborn.

Today, PLR Systems Pvt Ltd product portfolio includes the entire spectrum of small arms. Nine mm Masada Striker fired pistol, the renowned UZI Pro Sub Machine Gun, the versatile X-95 Micro Tavor and India’s new LMG the deadly NEGEV. PLR in its own way has contributed to the process of nation building by taking the journey of making the country self-sufficient and self-reliant when it comes to small arms and our resolve is to provide the Indian security forces the best in class weapons Made in India.

– The writer is an alumni of NDA commanded an Air Defence Unit, and is presently Director and Head of Business Development and Projects at PLR Systems Private Ltd