Bharat Forge Limited has signed its largest-ever small arms contract with the Ministry of Defence for the supply of indigenously designed and developed close-quarter battle carbines. The contract, valued at Rs 16.62 billion, was awarded on December 30, 2025.

The order covers the supply of 425,258 CQB carbines of 5.56 × 45 mm calibre to the Indian Armed Forces. The weapon system has been indigenously designed, developed and manufactured under the Indigenisation (IDDM) category and represents a major milestone in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.

The compact firearm has been developed by the Armament Research & Development Establishment under the Defence Research and Development Organisation, with production undertaken by Bharat Forge and its wholly owned defence subsidiary, Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited. The programme aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, reinforcing India’s push towards self-reliance in defence equipment and platforms.

The Ministry of Defence said the contract reflects continued confidence in domestically developed weapon systems and strengthens the operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces through “Made in India” solutions.