Private players reportedly showcased their might in the weapons industry at the Police and Homeland Security Expo at Pragati Maidan on Thursday. Over 60 private companies, including 40 Indian companies, participated in the two-day expo. The expo was visited by a number of police and paramilitary personnel to check the weapons, vehicles, drones and other security-related equipment.
“As many as 40 Indian and other foreign companies have come under one roof to display their achievements in security industries. This is not only a big boost to the Make in India initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but also a shot in the arm for police and other armed forces to get world-class weapons and other security equipment, which have been indigenously made,” said Prabuddha Bansal of Nexgen Exhibit, organizer of the expo.
Pune-based private manufacturer Kalyani industries and Adani and Israel Weapon Industry’s (IWI) stalls displaying various weapons were the center of attraction. While Kalyani displayed three indigenous weapons, the Adani-IWI showcased over a dozen Israeli weapons that are being manufactured in India.
“The joint venture protective carbine (JVPC), developed by DRDO and Kalyani Industries, a 5.56x30mm carbine has already started replacing the costly Heckler and Koch MP5. It has not only better penetration power but it is also cheaper. The JVPC has been indigenously made in India as an excellent replacement for existing sub machine guns (SMGs). A new bullpup assault rifle specialized for close quarter combat (CQB) and a mid-range sniper rifle has also been showcased,” said an organizer of the event.
Apart from weapons, two vehicles—Kalyani Maverick and Sherp—also pulled a lot of crowd due to their intimidating and different looks. The Kalyani Maverick is designed keeping in mind the Pulwama incident, it can withstand a 50kg TNT blast from the side and it can also carry over 11 personnel. The Sherp, a Ukrainian world famous all terrain vehicle, is going to be manufactured near Mohali in Punjab. The vehicle can go to any terrain and can swim on the water regardless of its depth.
“Sherp is currently being tested in various stages. We are also planning to test it in flood-affected areas. This vehicle is the true ATV with amphibious capabilities, so its deployability is very versatile. It can be used for search and rescue operations, border patrolling, as a launch vehicle, and many other roles,” said a company spokesperson. Many types of surveillance drones, CCTV cameras, mobile and forensic tech and other such security equipment were also showcased at the expo.
