Hyderabad-based Lokesh Machines Ltd develops India's first indigenous medium machine gun

Previously, the company had made a 9x19 mm calibre submachine gun (SMG) nicknamed ASMI.

The MMG has been prepared in collaboration with the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune.

The MMG, which can operate in both single-shot and automatic modes and is compatible with both Indian and NATO standard ammunition, can fire 800 rounds per minute and boasts of an effective range of 1800 meters, reported The Times of India.

The Indian newspaper reported that the MMG has a belt capacity of 250 rounds, with the option to attach additional belts for sustained firepower in combat situations and can be mounted on ground vehicles, naval vessels and aircraft.

The weapon can even operate in extreme temperatures, ranging from -40 to +55 degrees Celsius.

The company has now bagged a Rs 17.7 crore order from the Indian Army for the supply of precision components for in-service MMGs after extensive testing of Lokesh's MMG platform, Lokesh Machines said on Wednesday.

"Our MMG is about 25% lighter than the MMGs currently in use by the Indian Army, which extensively tested the weapon and it's subassemblies before deciding to upgrade its in-service MMGs with our subassemblies. This will help not only in reduction of weight of existing MMGs but also increase their reliability and functionality," Lokesh Machines director M Srinivas told TOI.