The first consignment of 7.62 mm Prahar light machine guns (LMGs) was handed over on March 28, marking a significant advancement in domestic small arms production. The delivery was completed 11 months ahead of the contracted timeline, highlighting accelerated execution in defence manufacturing.
The weapons were produced at the company’s integrated small arms facility in Gwalior, India’s first fully integrated private-sector hub dedicated to small arms manufacturing.
A ceremonial flag-off of trucks carrying the weapons was conducted by A. Anbarasu, Director General (Acquisition) at the Ministry of Defence, in the presence of senior defence officials.
The total order for Prahar LMGs reportedly exceeds 40,000 units, with the contract originally spanning seven years. However, Adani Defence has set an ambitious internal target to complete deliveries in less than three years.
CEO Ashish Rajvanshi stated that the company aims to maintain a production rate of 1,000 LMGs per month—an output described as unprecedented in India’s defence manufacturing sector.
The project itself has taken six years from bid submission to initial delivery, reflecting both the complexity and scale of indigenous arms production.
Spread across 100 acres, the Gwalior facility integrates end-to-end manufacturing capabilities, including barrel production, bolt carrier and receiver fabrication, advanced CNC machining, robotics, and precision metrology.
The plant also houses a metallurgy laboratory and a 25-metre underground firing range, ensuring stringent quality control. Each weapon undergoes lifecycle testing, ballistic assessment, and environmental trials before being cleared for deployment.
With an annual capacity of up to 100,000 weapons and over 90 per cent domestic sourcing, the facility represents a key pillar of India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ push in defence.
The manufacturing ecosystem is further strengthened by Adani Defence’s ammunition complex in Kanpur, commissioned in 2024.
The facility has an annual production capacity of around 300 million rounds of small-calibre ammunition and is expected to expand into large and medium-calibre ammunition production, enhancing India’s overall defence readiness.
The Prahar LMG, known internationally as the Negev NG7, is being manufactured in India through a joint venture with Israel Weapon Industries. The weapon is designed for reliability, high performance, and adaptability in diverse combat conditions.
The Gwalior facility is also being positioned to produce close quarter battle weapons for the Indian Armed Forces, further expanding the country’s indigenous defence capabilities.
The delivery of the first batch of Prahar LMGs marks a significant step in reducing dependence on imports and strengthening India’s domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.
With accelerated timelines, high production capacity, and increasing private-sector participation, the development signals a new phase in India’s journey towards defence self-reliance.
