ASMI

The Asmi (stylized ASMI) is a prototype Indian submachine gun. It was designed and developed in 2020 by the Indian Army's Mhow-based Infantry School and the Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) lab of the Defence Research and Development Organisation. As of 2021, the weapon has yet to be adopted.[1][2]

Asmi
Asmi 9mm submachine gun
TypeSubmachine gun
Machine pistol
Place of originIndia
Production history
DesignerLieutenant Colonel Prasad Bansod
Designed2020
Unit costest. $685 ( ₹50,000 Indian Rupees)
Specifications
Mass1.7–2 kg (3.75–4.41 lb) (empty)
Barrel length203.2 mm (8.0 in)
Cartridge9x19mm Parabellum
ActionStraight blowback
Rate of fire600 rounds/min
Effective firing range100 m
Feed system33 round Glock magazine
SightsPicatinny rail provided

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. As well as the 1A, India is also somewhat reliant on imported submachine guns, such as the Brügger & Thomet MP9, Heckler & Koch MP5 and Uzi.[2] The Asmi will serve as a cheaper alternative to imports, with an Asmi costing only a third as much as an MP5.[3]

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,[4] who had previous experience reverse engineering an INSAS rifle to produce a bullpup carbine variant.[5] 3D printing was utilized to make parts of the gun.[6]

Design

Unlike its predecessor, the Modern Sub Machine Carbine, the Asmi is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum,[6] 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 relatively low rate of fire, and its magazine is loaded inside of the pistol grip. The Asmi has an eight inch (203 mm) barrel, and a weight of around 2 kilograms (4.4 lb) when unloaded, and 3 kilograms (6.6 lb) loaded.[7][8]

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.

Designed in accordance with the Indian Army’s General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR),[9] and, typical for a submachine gun, its main application is for close-quarters combat, where it can be used by heavy weapon detachments, tanks and aircraft crews, drivers, and radio or radar operators.

References
  1. "DRDO's Pune facility and Army develop first indigenous 9mm machine pistol 'Asmi'". The Indian Express. 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  2. "DRDO develops ASMI, India's first homegrown Uzi-style personal defence weapon". The Week. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  3. Unnithan, Sandeep (14 January 2021). "The Indian Army's 'General Kalashnikov' gives it a new 9 mm sub-machine gun". India Today. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  4. 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. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  5. "DASMI - India's first indigenously developed 9mm Machine Pistol".
  6. "India's First Indigenously Developed 9mm Machine Pistol". pib.gov.in. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  7. Moss, Matthew (15 January 2021). "India Introduces New Indigenous ASMI Submachine Gun". Overt Defense. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  8. "Army officer develops first indigenous 9 mm 'machine pistol".
  9. "Meet Indian Army's first 9 mm Machine Pistol ASMI". Guarding India.
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