Modern Sub Machine Carbine
The Joint Venture Protective Carbine (JVPC),[6] also known as Modern Sub Machine Carbine (MSMC),[7] is an Indian submachine gun designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation,[8] manufactured by the Ordnance Factory Board at Small Arms Factory, Kanpur and Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli.[9][10] It was developed for the Indian Army, based on previous experience from the INSAS family of firearms.[11]
Modern Submachine Carbine/Joint Venture Protective Carbine | |
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An MSMC submachine gun on display. The weapon has an ITL MARS on the upper receiver. | |
Type | Submachine gun Personal defense weapon |
Place of origin | India |
Service history | |
Used by | See Users |
Production history | |
Designed | 2006 |
Manufacturer | Ordnance Factories Board[1] |
Produced | 2006-Present |
Specifications | |
Mass | 2.98 kg (6.6 lb) empty |
Length | 560 mm (22 in) closed stock 750 mm (30 in) open stock[2] |
Barrel length | 300 mm (12 in) |
Cartridge | 5.56×30mm MINSAS[2] |
Caliber | 5.56 mm (0.219 in) |
Action | Gas operated, long stroke piston rotating bolt |
Rate of fire | 800 RPM[2][3] |
Effective firing range | 200 to 300 m [4][5] |
Feed system | 30 rounds grip-inserted box magazine[2] |
Sights | Iron sights, reflex sights, IR sights, Laser sights[2] |
The MSMC was designed after the Indian Army's disappointment with the performance of the Amogh carbine, a carbine version of the Excalibur rifle (itself derived from the INSAS rifle, based on the AK-47).[12] The MSMC was designed to rectify the shortcomings of previous developments.
Through various trials and improvements, the ARDE came out with a grip-feeding, Uzi-like design that shortened the length of the weapon, making it more suitable for close quarters combat. Later its ergonomics were improved, boosting its export potential. The weapon is said to be capable of penetrating bullet-proof jackets.[3] It was created as an offshoot of the INSAS small arms program.[9][13]
History
The MSMC originates from a project to develop a carbine weapon based on the INSAS rifle. An INSAS carbine did not materialize, however, as the powerful rounds used in the INSAS rifle created excessive recoil for the smaller carbine.[14] It was decided to develop a new lightweight carbine that can fit the requirements of various Indian security forces units.[15] In 2002, the plan to create an INSAS carbine was discarded and instead, the Indian Army issued a General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) for a new submachine gun.[16] The first trial was held in June 2006,[17] another in late 2007 and finally one in January 2009.[11] The MSMC was showcased during the defense exhibition Defexpo 2010. The weapon underwent further trials between April and June 2010.[3] Among its major competitors is the IMI Tavor TAR-21,[15] which is in service with some Indian special forces units including the MARCOS and the Garud Commando Force.[18]
There had been numerous delays in testing the MSMC for Indian Army trials, mostly due to the unclear requirements needed.[19] The final version was provided to the Indian army for trials in August 2011 and the tests were supposed to last 7–8 months before induction into service.[20] Trials pitted the weapon against the FN P90 and the HK MP7.[21]
The DRDO mentioned in a November 2013 newsletter that they reported user satisfaction during MSMC trial runs in 2013.[22] The DRDO's Directorate of Quality, Reliability and Safety has been placed in charge of tracking the weapon's progress.[23] 50 JVPCs are scheduled to be issued to user trials in 2016.[21]
The MSMC was unable to clear the Indian Army's requirements and DRDO and OFB jointly started development of a carbine from scratch called the JVPC, which showed promise in the initial round of trials.[10] The carbine was handed over to Rajanth Singh, the Home minister of India by Defense minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a ceremony in 2017, starting the user trials with Indian paramilitary forces.[24]
The CRPF was reportedly planning to conduct field tests on the JVPC in February 2018, calling it a Ghatak assault rifle.[25]
The final phase of the JVPC testing was conducted on 7 December 2020 by India's military after which it was declared ready for active service.[26]
Development
Following design from machine pistols like the Uzi, the MSMC has a pistol grip which allows the user to fire it even with one hand. This allows the insertion of 30-round MSMC magazines on the pistol grip.[5] It has a retractable buttstock and ambidextrous cocking levers on both sides of the MSMC,[14] alongside the fire selectors to suit individuals who prefer to fire the weapon from either the left or right shoulder located above the trigger.[14]
The MSMC has a rate of fire of around 800 rpm with a mass of less than 3 kilograms. It has an effective range of around 200 meters. It has a butt extracted length of 750 mm and a butt retracted length of 560 mm. It utilities the 5.56×30 mm caliber which fires at a muzzle velocity of 650 meters per second.[2]
It has a picatinny railing on the receiver to allow the installations of weapon sights like reflex sights with iron sights built into the railing.[14] The weapon fires in a gas operated mode, utilizing rotary bolt locking and a gas piston.[14] The MSMC can also be suppressed with the installation of a silencer.[5]
Like the Uzi, the MSMC is made of stamped sheet metal while having polymer housing.[14][5] An unusual element in the design is the placement of the bayonet lug, located above the barrel just at the front of the receiver.[14] A three-point sling is used to help carry the MSMC via shoulders.[5] The weapon's accessories consist of a bayonet, silencer, reflex sight and three-point sling.[27]
The first prototypes have a large trigger guard, but later versions had this removed and instead, had traditional trigger guards instead when they showcased in exhibitions in 2013. In 2014, the MSMC's buttstock length changed from 558 mm to 500 mm.
Operators
- Central Industrial Security Force – since 17 August 2019.[28]
- Central Reserve Police Force – 10,000 units[29] with 2,107,600 rounds of ammunition ordered.[30]
- Chhattisgarh Police – 640 units.[1]
- Special Protection Group - Due to be in service after trials in 2019.[29]
See also
- INSAS rifle – Parent firearm
- Multi Caliber Individual Weapon System
References
- Unnithan, Sandeep (8 September 2017). "This Made in India gun, with a cult following among gamers, soon to join Army's arsenal". India Today. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- "JVPC-5.56 mm | SMALL ARMS FACTORY | Government of India". Ordnance Factory Board. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- IANS (17 February 2010). "New sub-machinegun can pierce bullet-proof jackets: DRDO". The Indian. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Singh, Bulbul (5 October 2015). "India tests new carbines". BATTLESPACE. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015.
- "Joint Venture Protective Carbine (JVPC)". DRDO. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
- IANS (11 January 2015). "India-made automatic rifle production stuck in red tape". business-standard.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- https://www.drdo.gov.in/joint-venture-protective-carbine-jvpc
- "DRDO develops close-quarter combat guns for Army". Brahmand.com. 13 October 2009. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- "Why India does not manufacture Carbines its soldiers need?". Centre for Land Warfare Studies. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017.
- Ranjani Raghavan and Oinam Anand (21 August 2009). "City institute ready with new gun for Army". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- "Why India does not manufacture Carbines its soldiers need?". www.claws.in. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- "Indian Army to unveil machine gun". AmmoLand.com Shooting Sports News. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- Max Popenker (2010). "MSMC". Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- "DRDO to display sub-machine carbine at Defexpo 2010". Defense World. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- "ARDE Develops New Version of Modern Sub-Machine Carbine for Indian Army". defencenow.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015.
- Daniel Watters (2011). "The 5.56 X 45mm: 2006". Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- "Israeli TAR-21 Tavor Assault Rifles for Indian Navy Commandos". Bharat-Rakshak. 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 16 January 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- Sandeep Unnithan (20 August 2010). "The Ghost Guns". India Today. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- Prasad Kulkarni (27 August 2011). "ARDE develops final version of modern carbine". Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
- "Multi-Calibre Assault Rifle: Made in India vs Make in India". Indian Defence Review. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Indian DRDO's Quality Directorate Monitoring New Carbine Development". defenseworld.net. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- "Nirmala Sitharaman takes charge as country's first woman Defence Minister". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- "CRPF to conduct trials of "Made in India" rifles – India News". Indiatoday.in. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
- "Successful Trials of 5.56 x 30 mm Joint Venture Protective Carbine (JVPC)". Ministry of Defence. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- http://14.143.90.243/drdo/development-556-mm-joint-venture-protective-carbine-jvpc-user-24-trial
- "Monthly Summary for the Cabinet for the month of August 2019" (PDF). Department of Defence Production. August 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- SPG OPTS FOR DESI JVPC by Sandeep Unnithan, Mail Today, December 2, 2019.
- "ANNUAL PROCUREMENT PLAN 2019–20 LIST OF ITEMS TO BE CENTRALLY PROCURED" (PDF). Central Reserve Police Force. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
External links
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