The Ministry of Defence on Tuesday (December 30, 2025) signed defence procurement contracts worth ₹4,666 crore for the acquisition of Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines for the Indian Army and Navy and Heavyweight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy, in a major push towards modernisation and operational preparedness of the Armed Forces.
The contracts were inked in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block, New Delhi, officials said.
According to Ministry of Defence, under the first contract, over 4.25 lakh CQB Carbines along with accessories, valued at ₹2,770 crore, will be procured for the Indian Army and the Indian Navy from Bharat Forge Ltd and PLR Systems Pvt Ltd. The induction of these indigenously manufactured carbines marks the culmination of a long-standing effort to replace legacy small arms with modern, high-lethality weapons in line with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.
Designed as a key component of the modern infantry arsenal, the CQB Carbine offers a compact design, high rate of fire and enhanced lethality, providing a decisive advantage in close-combat and confined-space operations. The project also underscores growing government–private sector synergy, strengthening the Make in India initiative while boosting employment, supporting MSMEs, and deepening India’s indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem, the Ministry added.
