ASMI
Indian 9mm submachine gun developed as a low-cost replacement for the 1A Carbine.
The ASMI—its name derived from Asmita, meaning 'pride, self respect and hard work'—is a submachine gun developed in 2020 by India’s Armament Research and Development Establishment. It was intended to replace the 1A Carbine, a domestic copy of the Sterling submachine gun that has been in Indian service since the 1960s, and to offer a more affordable option than imported weapons like the Brügger & Thomet MP9, Heckler & Koch MP5, and Uzi. At roughly one-third the cost of an MP5, the ASMI is a cheaper alternative. The DRDO had previously attempted to replace the 1A with the Modern Sub Machine Carbine in the 2000s, but that design failed to meet military requirements. The ASMI was developed over four months by Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Bansod, who had earlier reverse-engineered an INSAS rifle into a bullpup carbine. 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 emerged as the lowest bidder—beating PLR Systems and Jindal Defence—to supply 550 ASMI submachine pistols in 9×19mm to the Indian Army’s Para (Special Forces). The per-unit cost was around ₹50,000 (US$520), and the total contract was worth ₹4.6 crore (US$480,000). This order marked the first indigenous small arm contract since the INSAS rifle. All 550 guns were delivered by 1 October 2024, flagged off by Major General Rakesh Manocha. On 12 February 2026, the Assam Rifles placed an order for 1,013 ASMI carbines after Lokesh Machines again submitted the lowest bid in a techno-commercial evaluation. The ASMI is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, a cartridge already standard in the Indian Army—a logistical advantage over the MSMC, which used a purpose-built round. It is a straight blowback design with a side-folding stock, a low rate of fire, and a magazine housed inside the pistol grip, similar to the Uzi. Two barrel lengths are available: 7.2 inches (180 mm) and 6.5 inches (170 mm). The weapon weighs around 2 kilograms (4.4 lb). The upper receiver is aluminium, the lower receiver carbon fiber, and the upper receiver features a full-length Picatinny rail with M-LOK slots on both sides. Some parts are made using 3D printing. Its primary role is close-quarters combat, serving as a personal defence weapon for heavy weapon crews, tank and aircraft crews, drivers, and radio or radar operators.
Quick Facts
- Production Date
- August 2024 - present
- Origin
- India
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Service
- 2024-present
- Designer
- Lt. Colonel Prasad Bansod
- Design Date
- 2020
- Manufacturer
- Lokesh Machines Limited
- Number
- 570
- Weight
- 1.7-2 kg (empty)
- Length
- 382 mm (stock folded) / 612 mm (stock extended)
- Part Length
- 7.2 in / 6.5 in
- Cartridge
- 9×19mm Parabellum
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The ASMI was developed over four months by Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Bansod, who had previously reverse engineered an INSAS rifle to produce a bullpup carbine variant. It was showcased at the 7th edition of the International Police Expo in New Delhi on 6 July 2022 and at DEFEXPO 2022. The weapon was designed to replace the 1A Carbine, a domestic copy of the Sterling submachine gun in service since the 1960s, and to reduce reliance on imported submachine guns. An earlier attempt by the DRDO to replace the 1A, the Modern Sub Machine Carbine, failed to meet military requirements. The ASMI is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, a cartridge already in use by the Indian Army, giving it a logistical advantage over the MSMC, which used a purpose-built round. The upper receiver is made from aluminium, the lower receiver from carbon fiber, and 3D printing was used for some parts. It features a full-length Picatinny rail on the upper receiver and M-LOK slots on both sides. Typical for a submachine gun, its main application is close-quarters combat, serving as a personal defence weapon for heavy weapon detachments, tank and aircraft crews, drivers, and radio or radar operators.
Reader's Guide
The ASMI represents a significant step in India's efforts to indigenize small arms production. Its development followed the failure of the Modern Sub Machine Carbine, and it was designed to be a cost-effective alternative to imported submachine guns, costing only a third as much as an MP5. The first major adoption came in April 2024, when Lokesh Machines won a contract to supply 550 ASMI submachine pistols to the Para (Special Forces) of the Indian Army, with a per-unit cost of around ₹50,000 (US$520). All 550 guns were delivered by 1 October 2024 and inducted on 5 November 2024. This contract was notable as the first order for an indigenous small arm after the INSAS rifle. In February 2026, the Assam Rifles placed an order for 1,013 carbines. The ASMI has also been delivered for trials to the Border Security Force and the National Security Guard. Its design, incorporating a straight blowback action, side-folding stock, and magazine in the pistol grip, is similar to the Uzi. The weapon's use of 3D printing and carbon fiber reflects modern manufacturing techniques, while its chambering in a standard military cartridge eases logistics.
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