UAE-based CARACAL is engaged in negotiations with various state security forces to offer a range of small arms, including the modern CMP 9 submachine gun, CARACAL EF pistol, and sniper rifles.
In an exclusive conversation with Financial Express Online at the inaugural Milipol India event last week, CARACAL’s CEO, Hamad Al Ameri, confirmed, “Our Indian partner ICOMM will undertake the complete production of small arms, encompassing the versatile CARACAL EF pistol, modern CMP 9 submachine gun, CAR 814, CAR 816, as well as the CAR 817 tactical rifles, CSR 308 bolt-action sniper rifles, the CSA 338 semi-automatic sniper rifle, CSR 338, CSR 50 anti-material sniper rifle, and CAR 817 DMR tactical sniper rifle.”
ICOMM, the Indian firm, has partnered with UAE’s CARACAL to facilitate local small arms manufacturing in India. This collaboration, initiated earlier this year during IDEX 2023 in Abu Dhabi, signifies the first-ever technology transfer for defence articles from the UAE to India. Under the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, ICOMM, a subsidiary of Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL), will produce CARACAL’s entire line of small arms for the Indian market.
ICOMM’s design, development, and manufacturing centre in Hyderabad ranks among the largest companies involved in manufacturing missiles, sub-systems, communications, EW systems, radars, electro-optics, composites, loitering munitions, shelters, drones, and counter-drone systems.
CARACAL, with a significant presence in the Asia-Pacific region, has been actively forging partnerships. In 2022, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s ICOMM, followed by a licensing agreement at IDEX 2023, and in 2021, an Industrial Cooperation Agreement with Indonesia’s PT Pindad for co-producing the CAR 816 for the Indonesian market, with PT Pindad supplying barrels and other components.
The proximity of CARACAL’s location in the United Arab Emirates to the Indian market allows for swift after-sales service, a crucial element in the success of CARACAL products, along with competitive pricing, as highlighted by Hamad Al Ameri, the Caracal CEO.
Status of the CQB & Snipers
Regarding the status of the Close Quarter Carbine & Snipers bid, Al Ameri confirmed their response to the Request for Proposal in alignment with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, emphasizing the incorporation of 65 percent indigenous content. He noted that assault rifles in both 5.56- and 7.62-mm calibres, as well as 9 mm submachine guns, are among their best-selling items. Submachine guns have witnessed substantial growth, particularly among Homeland Security forces, rivalling the Army’s demand in some countries.
Al Ameri stated, “We are steps ahead and (have) identified suppliers who can at present make 65 percent of the rifle parts locally. This covers a lot of parts, said Al Ameri. “There are more than 108 parts to the rifle. Some are steel, different kinds of steel, some are polymer. You will also have accessories, like sights, bayonets, and cleaning kits. We have identified local suppliers.”