A Telangana-based startup, Dvipa Defence, has set a record by manufacturing an indigenously developed assault rifle named ‘Ugram’ within 100 days. The achievement is being seen as a milestone for India’s domestic defence production.
Headquartered in Hyderabad, Dvipa Defence was founded in 2018. The company has established an arms manufacturing facility on 13 acres of land allotted by the Telangana government in Hyderabad.
The rifle was designed in collaboration with the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The project is described as one of the fastest indigenous weapon development efforts in the country.
According to the report, the ‘Ugram’ rifle has cleared the Army’s General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) tests, all-weather field evaluations, and board trials conducted by the Union Home Ministry.
Central forces including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the National Security Guard (NSG) are engaged in the process of purchasing the rifle. The weapon features a modern gas-operated rotating bolt system, weighs under 4 kg, and is stated to be accurate up to 500 metres.
