TDB-DST Backs dvipa Defence to Boost India鈥檚 Small Arms Sector
18 Apr 2025
2 Min Read
CW Team
The Ministry of Science and Technology, through the Technology Development Board (TDB), has taken a pivotal step toward indigenizing India鈥檚 small arms manufacturing capability by extending financial assistance to dvipa Defence India, Hyderabad (erstwhile dvipa Armour). The project, titled 鈥淒evelopment and Commercialization of 7.62 mm x 51 mm Assault Rifles,鈥� aims to produce high-performance, indigenous assault rifles in alignment with the Indian Army鈥檚 General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR).
TDB鈥檚 assistance will play a crucial role in enabling the development, testing, and commercialization of the UGRAM rifle, including the creation of a state-of-the-art in-house manufacturing unit with integrated quality assurance and testing infrastructure.
For decades, India has depended heavily on imported small arms, resulting in substantial foreign exchange outflows and interoperability challenges across armed forces, thereby complicating training and logistics. The ageing INSAS rifles, once developed through earlier collaborations, are increasingly viewed as inadequate for modern combat needs. In 2017, the Government initiated a policy shift to replace these with advanced, reliable rifles chambered in 7.62 mm x 51 mm NATO-grade ammunition.
In response to this national need, dvipa Defence, incorporated in October 2018, emerged as a strong domestic player in the defence manufacturing sector. As one of the early license holders for small arms and ammunition production, the company partnered with DRDO鈥檚 Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, to develop a fully indigenous assault rifle, UGRAM 鈥� Sanskrit for 鈥渇erocious.鈥� Demonstrating exceptional execution, five prototypes were developed within 100 days and successfully passed initial testing at ARDE.
News source: PIB
The Ministry of Science and Technology, through the Technology Development Board (TDB), has taken a pivotal step toward indigenizing India鈥檚 small arms manufacturing capability by extending financial assistance to dvipa Defence India, Hyderabad (erstwhile dvipa Armour). The project, titled 鈥淒evelopment and Commercialization of 7.62 mm x 51 mm Assault Rifles,鈥� aims to produce high-performance, indigenous assault rifles in alignment with the Indian Army鈥檚 General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR).
TDB鈥檚 assistance will play a crucial role in enabling the development, testing, and commercialization of the UGRAM rifle, including the creation of a state-of-the-art in-house manufacturing unit with integrated quality assurance and testing infrastructure.
For decades, India has depended heavily on imported small arms, resulting in substantial foreign exchange outflows and interoperability challenges across armed forces, thereby complicating training and logistics. The ageing INSAS rifles, once developed through earlier collaborations, are increasingly viewed as inadequate for modern combat needs. In 2017, the Government initiated a policy shift to replace these with advanced, reliable rifles chambered in 7.62 mm x 51 mm NATO-grade ammunition.
In response to this national need, dvipa Defence, incorporated in October 2018, emerged as a strong domestic player in the defence manufacturing sector. As one of the early license holders for small arms and ammunition production, the company partnered with DRDO鈥檚 Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, to develop a fully indigenous assault rifle, UGRAM 鈥� Sanskrit for 鈥渇erocious.鈥� Demonstrating exceptional execution, five prototypes were developed within 100 days and successfully passed initial testing at ARDE.
News source: PIB
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