Caracal inaugurates Hyderabad factory

Small arms manufacturer Caracal has officially inaugurated a new factory in Hyderabad India in partnership with local company, ICOMM, according to a 21st April press release. The factory is located at ICOMM’s Integrated Engineering Facility in Hyderabad, and marks the signing of the licensing agreement that accompanied the inauguration marks the first defence technology transfer between the UAE and India. 

The facility is expected to serve India’s armed forces and armed police, as well as catering to Caracal’s export requirements. The company’s firearms have already passed technical qualifications with two Indian special forces units and are making progress in the Indian Army’s trials, the press release states. This announcement comes close on the heels of Caracal’s announced plans to produce the CAR 816 assault rifle in Malaysia.

The Indian facility will produce the following: 

• CAR 816 close-quarters battle rifle, chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO
• CAR 817 assault rifle, chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO
• CSR 338 bolt-action sniper rifle, chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum
• CSR 308 bolt-action sniper rifle, chambered in .308 Winchester
• CSR 50 bolt-action anti-materiel sniper rifle, chambered in 12.7x99mm NATO
• CMP9 submachine gun, chambered in 9x19mm
• CARACAL EF and CARACAL F GEN II combat pistols, chambered in 9x19mm. 

Caracal is understood to have submitted a response to an Indian RFI in 2022, which was seeking 425,000 carbines. In 2018, the company had seemingly won a contract for 93,895 carbines which was later cancelled because they would not have been produced in India.

Calibre comment

The Indian Army seems to be open to operating several different types of assault rifle. It has procured tens of thousands of AK-203 assault rifles from Kalashnikov, and formed a joint venture between Rosoboronexport and Korwa Ordnance Factory called Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited. That factory was reported to have delivered 35,000 rifles in 2024. Initial reporting from Indian news outlets indicated as many as 650,000 AK-203s could be procured for India’s needs. 

Also in 2024, SIG Sauer announced a joint venture with Nibe Defence and Aerospace in India, giving SIG “an expanded presence, greater customer engagement, and new collaboration opportunities to meet India’s growing needs.” This followed a contract in 2019 for 72,400 SIG716 assault rifles, which also led to a follow-on order for another 73,000 rifles. The SIG order was originally touted as being for Indian troops involved in counter-terror operations.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 25th April, 2025.