Punj Lloyd, IWI of Israel make small arms |
Punj Lloyd in collaboration with Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) inaugurated India`s first private sector small arms manufacturing plant at Malanpur in Madhya Pradesh. The joint venture (JV) Punj Lloyd Raksha Systems (PLR) was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister of MP Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the company`s existing premises. The JV will manufacture four products X95 carbine and assault rifle, Galil sniper rifle, Tavor assault rifle and Negev Light Machine Gun (LMG). Initially the plant would manufacture components and in phases it would be expanded to manufacture complete small arms for which the licence is awaited. Security forces in India already have a large inventory of small arms from IWI and the JV would cater to their maintenance and support. License is in the final stage of approval with the Home Ministry. It is likely to be done in the next few months, Atul Punj, Chairman Punj Lloyd said. Samy Katsav, Chairman of SK Group which is the parent company of IWI said that the components manufactured at the plant would be exported to Israel to be integrated into the small arms manufactured there which would be further exported worldwide. Katsav stated that 90 per cent of IWI`s products were exported and eventually the idea is to export full fire arms from India to Israel and worldwide.
|
|
|
|