At Pune Expo,ARDE looks for vendors

Even as the Army trails are on for the Modern Sub Machine Carbine (MSMC) developed by Pune-based Armaments Research and Development Establishment (ARDE),the institute is trying to attract vendors for joint development of the carbine through the Pune Expo.

“We are in the advanced stages of the trials. The next one will be from December to February,therefore we feel that it will be inducted into the army,” said a senior ARDE scientist. “Our motto is to identify the vendors so that we can jointly develop the project. Vendors can develop the external grid of the machine,or take charge of the ergonomics aspect — which will ensure that a machine that is required to go into extreme conditions is not adversely affected,” he said.

Though only four to five companies have expressed interest till now,the establishment hopes to attract more vendors through this exhibition. “Many vendors have expressed interest. We will do a review at the end of the exhibition,” a scientist said.

The ARDE is also exhibiting other machines like the Light Machine Gun,and the Futuristic-Infantry Soldier as a System and is looking for vendors for the same. It is also displaying piezoelectronic materials made at ARDE. “We run a pilot plant within ARDE where we manufacture piezoelectric materials. Though there are a lot of demand,these are not easily available in market,” a scientist said.