Amogh carbine
Indian personal defense weapon derived from the INSAS rifle family.
The Amogh Carbine (Hindi: अमोघ, meaning "unerring") is a select-fire personal defense weapon made by the Ordnance Factories Board. It is based on the Excalibur rifle, which itself was developed from the INSAS rifle. The weapon is intended for close-quarters combat.
Development of the Amogh began in 2005. It was displayed at the Defence Services Asia convention in April 2008. That September, an order for 148 carbines was placed at a cost of 26.64 lakh. A 2016 audit found that 80 of these carbines had never been used because the required ammunition was not supplied for eight years. The carbine was also shown at Aero India 2013. The Indian Army rejected it after initial trials, but the Indian Coast Guard, navy, and some police forces, including those of Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, adopted it. A postage stamp featuring the carbine was issued in India on 25 March 2012.
The Amogh is chambered in 5.56×30mm MINSAS, a caliber developed specifically for carbines, similar to the MSMC/JVPC. It uses a gas-operated, long-stroke piston with a rotating bolt. The weapon weighs 2.95 kg without a magazine, has an effective range of 200 meters, and a rate of fire of 700 rounds per minute. Its receiver is stamped sheet metal, while the handguard, pistol grip, and side-folding stock are made of lightweight black polymer. The 330mm barrel is chrome-plated. It feeds from a translucent 30-round polymer magazine that lets the shooter see the remaining rounds. The charging handle is on the left side of the receiver, and the magazine release, located at the front of the trigger guard, is similar to that of the INSAS rifle. The carbine has two firing modes: single and automatic. Fixed iron sights consist of a post-type front sight and an aperture rear sight. A small rail on the top cover allows mounting of optical sights, and a bayonet can be attached as an accessory.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- India
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Service
- 2008-Present
- Design Date
- 2005
- Manufacturer
- Ordnance Factory Board
- Weight
- 2.95 kg empty / 3.27 kg with 30 rounds
- Length
- 800 mm (stock extended) / 575 mm
- Part Length
- 330 mm
- Cartridge
- 5.56×30mm MINSAS
- Caliber
- 5.56 mm (.223 in)
- Barrels
- 1
- Action
- Gas-operated, rotating bolt, Closed Breech
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Amogh was developed in 2005. From April 21 to 24, 2008, it was shown at the Defence Services Asia convention. In September 2008, an order was made to supply 148 Amoghs for a cost of 26.64 lakh. An audit revealed in September 2016 that 80 of the carbines were not used due to failure for supplying the needed ammunition for eight years. The carbine was shown to visit during the Aero India 2013 convention. It has been rejected to be used by the Indian Army after the first trial, although the Indian Coast Guard, navy and some police forces use the carbine. The carbine was featured in an Indian postage stamp from 25 March 2012.
The carbine is gas operated with a long stroke piston and rotating bolt. The receiver is made of stamped sheet metal, while the hand-guard, pistol grip and side folding stock are made of black lightweight polymer. It has a chrome plated barrel. The charging handle is located on the left side of the receiver. The magazine release is similar to that of the INSAS rifle, with the catch lever at the front of the trigger guard. It has fixed iron sights (post front, aperture rear) and a small rail on the top cover for mounting optical sights. A bayonet can be fitted as an accessory.
Reader's Guide
The Amogh carbine represents an attempt by the Ordnance Factories Board to produce a compact personal defense weapon for Indian forces, chambered in the specialized 5.56×30mm MINSAS caliber. Its development as a derivative of the Excalibur and INSAS rifles aimed to leverage existing manufacturing and logistical knowledge. Despite being rejected by the Indian Army after its first trial, the carbine found limited adoption by the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and police forces such as Manipur Police and Uttar Pradesh Police. The 2016 audit revealing that 80 of the 148 ordered carbines remained unused for eight years due to ammunition supply failures highlights significant logistical challenges. The weapon's appearance on an Indian postage stamp in 2012 indicates a degree of national recognition, yet its overall legacy is one of limited service and unresolved procurement issues.
Did You Know?
- The Amogh name means 'unerring' in Hindi.
- It was developed in 2005 and first shown at the Defence Services Asia convention in April 2008.
- An order of 148 carbines cost 26.64 lakh, but 80 were unused by 2016 due to ammunition supply failures.
- It is chambered in the 5.56×30mm MINSAS caliber, similar to the MSMC/JVPC.
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