BSF IG satisfied of AMR produced at OFT

Tiruchirapalli, Feb 15 (UNI) Inspector General (Provisions) Border Security Force (BSF) Virendra has expressed satisfaction over the workmanship of the Anti-Materials Rifles (AMRs) produced at Ordnance Factory Trichy (OFT).

Receiving the first consignment of 10 AMRs formally from OFT here yesterday, Mr Virendra said the BSF was repledging its thrust and it had also directed the OFT to develop a high capability assault rifle.

Handing over the consignment to Mr Virendra, member of Technical Services, Ordnance Factories Board, C S Sivakumar said by virtue of developing the indegenious AMRs, the country would be saving heavy foreign exchange.

He said the rifle comprising of 17 assemblies and 300 components within was totally an inhouse production of the OFT and each unit cost only about Rs 10 lakh, as against Rs 23 lakh or so quoted by foreign suppliers.

Explaining the special features of the 14.5/20 mm AMRs, OFT General Manager R K Jain said the BSF was one among their prime customers.

He said the 43-year-old factory was engaged in manufacturing about 2.5 lakh of rifles every year and it had developed the most powerful leathal weapons, next to canons, within a record period of three years by the process of reverse engineering.

Christened as 'VIDHWANSAK', the weapon was capable of inter-changability in three calibers, namely in 12.7 mm, 14.5 mm and 20 mm, the changing process taking less than 30 seconds. The rifle, weighing about 30 kg could be selectively used for variety of ammunitions and could fire within a range of 1,800 metres with pinpoint occuracy, he added.

As required by the BSF, the OFT would be supplying 100 AMRs hopefully before October end this year, he added.

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