The close-quarter carbines will be for frontline soldiers, including the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China where the two countries have been locked in a tense standoff since May 2020, the officials said.

The force is looking to acquire 5.56mm carbines with an effective range of at least 200 metres, the army said in their request for information (RFI). The document, published on 22 September, also spells out other desired parameters of the weapon, including accuracy and reliability.

The development comes months after the defence ministry cleared indigenous defence purchases worth ₹28,732 crore, including carbines, armed drone swarms and bullet-proof jackets. The army has also issued an RFI for 47,627 bulletproof jackets.

The defence acquisition council (DAC) had in July accorded its acceptance of necessity for the military hardware to provide a boost to self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector.

The post Indian Army set to float tender for carbines, bulletproof vests appeared first on IMR.

In a historic move for the bloc, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced, on 28 February, that the EU would finance the purchase and delivery of arms to Ukraine totalling €450 million.

Some countries in the bloc would also be sending fighter jets, the EU’s foreign chief Josep Borrell announced.

In another major shift, Germany has broken its long-standing foreign policy of banning all exports of lethal weapons to conflict zones.

Listed alphabetically, here is what donor countries have announced.

* Belgium – 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel, 3,000 additional automatic rifles and 200 anti-tank weapons.

* Canada – helmets, bulletproof vests, anti-tank weapons, ammunition.

* Croatia – €16 million worth of protective gear and light arms

* Czech Republic – 30,000 pistols, 7,000 assault rifles, 3,000 machine guns, sniper rifles, ammunition.

* Czech Republic – military equipment.

* Denmark – 2,700 anti-tank weapons, volunteer brigade.

* EU – will finance the purchase of arms for €450 mn

* Finland – 2,500 assault rifles, 150,000 rounds of ammunition, 1,500 rocket launchers, 70,000 field rations.

* France – defence equipment and fuel support.

* Germany – 1,000 anti-tank rocket launchers, 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles, nine Howitzers, 14 armoured vehicles and 10,000 tonnes of fuel to Ukraine.

* Italy – military equipment.

* Netherlands – weapons and protective equipment, 200 Stingers

* Norway – helmets, bulletproof vests, 2,000 M72 anti-tank weapons.

* Portugal – bulletproof vests, helmets, night vision goggles, grenades and ammunition.

* Portugal – military equipment.

* Romania – fuel, body armour, helmets, ammunition, military equipment, medical treatment.

* Slovenia  – rifles, ammunition and helmets.

* Sweden – anti-tank weapons

* USA – €350 million military aid package (adds up to €1 billion over last one year).

The post Who is sending military equipment to Ukraine to fight the Russians appeared first on IMR.