ASMI

The Asmi (stylized ASMI) is an Indian prototype submachine gun. It was designed and developed in 2020 by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, but has not been put into service.[4][5]

Asmi
Asmi 9mm submachine gun
TypeSubmachine gun
Machine pistol
Place of originIndia
Production history
DesignerPrasad Bansod
Designed2020
ManufacturerLokesh Machine Limited
Unit costest. $685 (₹ 50,000)
Specifications
Mass1.7–2 kg (3.75–4.41 lb) (empty)
Length
  • 382 mm (stock folded)
  • 612 mm (stock extended)[1]
Barrel length
  • 7.2-inch (180 mm) *6.5-inch (170 mm)
Cartridge9×19mm Parabellum
ActionStraight blowback
Rate of fire600 rounds/min[2]
Effective firing range100 m
Feed system33 round Glock magazine
SightsReflex sight[3]

Background

The Asmi was designed as a replacement for the 1A Carbine, India's domestically produced copy of the Sterling submachine gun, which has been in service since the 1960s. Alongside the 1A, India is also somewhat reliant on imported submachine guns, such as the Brügger & Thomet MP9, Heckler & Koch MP5 and Uzi.[5] The Asmi will serve as a cheaper alternative to imports, with an Asmi costing only a third as much as an MP5.[6] In the 2000s, the DRDO developed the Modern Sub Machine Carbine to attempt to replace the 1A, but it failed to meet the military's requirements.

Asmi, which means "pride, self respect and hard work", was first showcased in January 2021, and developed over the course of four months by Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Bansod,[7] who had previous experience reverse engineering an INSAS rifle to produce a bullpup carbine variant.[8] 3D printing was utilized to make parts of the gun.[9]

Design

Unlike its predecessor, the Modern Sub Machine Carbine, the Asmi is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum,[9] a cartridge already in use in the Indian Army, giving it a major logistical advantage over the MSMC, whose round was purpose built for the design.

Similar to the Uzi, the Asmi is a straight blowback submachine gun with a side-folding stock, a low rate of fire, and its magazine is loaded inside of the pistol grip. The Asmi has two barrel configurations: 7.2-inch (180 mm) and 6.5-inch (170 mm) barrel, and has a weight of around 2 kilograms (4.4 lb).[10][11]

The upper receiver is made from aluminium, and the lower receiver is made from carbon fiber. The upper receiver has a full-length Picatinny rail, and there are M-LOK slots on the left and right side of the weapon.

Typical for a submachine gun, its main application is for close-quarters combat, where it can be used by heavy weapon detachments, tank and aircraft crews, drivers, and radio or radar operators.[12]

Manufacturing

The Asmi is manufactured by Lokesh Machine Limited. It was showcased at the 7th edition of the International Police Expo in New Delhi on 6 July 2022 and DEFEXPO 2022. The company is waiting for a license to mass produce under 'Make-I' of the Defence Procurement Procedure which will take another three months due to procedural clearances.[13]

References
  1. Technology Focus, Vol 29,Issue no:5 (October 2021). "Small arms and ammunition" (PDF). DRDO.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "India Introduces New Indigenous ASMI Submachine Gun". Overt Defense. 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  3. Technology Focus, Vol 29,Issue no:5 (October 2021). "Small arms and ammunition" (PDF). DRDO.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. "DRDO's Pune facility and Army develop first indigenous 9mm machine pistol 'Asmi'". The Indian Express. 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  5. "DRDO develops ASMI, India's first homegrown Uzi-style personal defence weapon". The Week. 13 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  6. Unnithan, Sandeep (14 January 2021). "The Indian Army's 'General Kalashnikov' gives it a new 9 mm sub-machine gun". India Today. Archived from the original on 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  7. Siddiqui, Huma (2021-01-14). "Meet Lt Col Prasad Bansod: Infantry School officer behind India's first indigenously Developed 9mm Machine Pistol". The Financial Express. Archived from the original on 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  8. "DASMI - India's first indigenously developed 9mm Machine Pistol".
  9. "India's First Indigenously Developed 9mm Machine Pistol". pib.gov.in. 14 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  10. Technology Focus, Vol 29,Issue no:5 (October 2021). "Small arms and ammunition" (PDF). DRDO.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. "Army officer develops first indigenous 9 mm 'machine pistol". Archived from the original on 2021-01-16.
  12. "Meet Indian Army's first 9 mm Machine Pistol ASMI". Guarding India. Archived from the original on 2021-01-14.
  13. Shankar, Ravi (2022-07-08). "India's First Indigenous 9mm Machine Pistol, Showstopper At International Police Expo". Bharat Shakti. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
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