The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has emerged as the lowest bidder in the Indian Army’s high-stakes tender to procure over four lakh close-quarter battle (CQB) carbines.
The 5.56×45 mm CQB Carbine, developed by DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in collaboration with a private-sector partner, marks a potential game-changer in India’s tactical gear modernisation.
“Significantly boosting Atmanirbharta in critical defence technologies, the DRDO-designed CQB Carbine has been selected as L1 in the Indian Army’s Request for Proposal (RFP),” DRDO posted on X.
This development is particularly significant given the Indian Army’s longstanding effort to acquire modern CQB weapons—a plan that has seen multiple tender withdrawals over the years. With DRDO now leading the bid, the carbine could soon be a standard issue in close combat scenarios, enhancing agility and firepower in critical operations.
Analysts suggest this step reinforces India’s vision of self-reliance and could pave the way for more such collaborations between state-owned defence entities and private industry players.
