IAF GARUD COMMANDOS : Garud Commandos, the specialized unit of the Indian Air Force, was officially formed in September 2004. This elite force undergoes rigorous training to safeguard critical air force installations, recover assets in the face of terrorist threats, conduct evacuations, and contribute to disaster relief efforts. Their exceptional skills were notably displayed during the 2016 Pathankot attack when they successfully prevented the destruction of vital IAF facilities. Throughout their intensive 72-week training program, Garud commandos are equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and ammunition. Here are some of the weapons reportedly utilized by Garud Commandos:
1. IWI NEGEV
Table of Contents
The Negev is an Israeli light machine gun developed by Israel Weapon Industries to address the limitations of the Galil LMG, which was prone to barrel overheating during sustained firing. The Negev is designed to be compatible with standard NATO ammunition. It was created in response to the mission needs of the Israel Defence Forces in the early 1990s and was intended to replace several weapon systems within their arsenal. These included a light machine gun suitable for infantry, vehicle, and aircraft use, as well as a general-purpose machine gun, thus replacing the Israel Defence Forces’ FN MAG58.
The Negev machine gun was developed and completed in 1995, followed by field testing conducted by the Israeli Defense Forces in 1996. In 1997, the Negev was officially adopted as the new standard weapon, and it began to be issued to troops. The Negev’s appeal stems from its favorable comparison with the bulky Galil assault rifle, as it offers similar performance to the Minimi, combining good accuracy with a lightweight design. Additionally, the IDF found the Negev to be more reliable than the Minimi in desert conditions, and its folding stock is considered a significant advantage.
2. IWI TAVOR
IMI (Israel Military Industries) developed the Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle as a replacement for the Galil, M16A1, and CAR-15 assault rifles. The Tavor was specifically designed to offer high reliability and performance in urban combat scenarios. It earned its name, TAR-21, which stands for “Tavor Assault Rifle for the Twenty-First Century.” The Tavor is a cutting-edge infantry weapon system that incorporates the latest advancements in firearm technology into a single platform. It is a bullpup-style polymer rifle, designed to distribute the weight towards the shooter’s shoulder, allowing for faster and more agile movement, which is particularly advantageous in the context of urban combat, a situation commonly faced by troops.
The Tavor TAR-21 maintains a full-length barrel while being significantly shorter than its predecessors in terms of overall length. It is available in both 5.56mm NATO and 9mm calibers. The Micro Tavor variant comes equipped with a silencer and can be chambered in 9mm. The standard Tavor model uses a 30-round magazine and is compatible with NATO Stanag magazines. It can also be equipped with the same accessories commonly used with other assault rifles. The rifle comes with a built-in MARS reflex sight on the barrel, but this sight can be replaced with any other sight as needed. An advantage of this integrated sight is that it allows for the addition of a night sight or magnification without requiring the sight to be re-zeroed. Additionally, the Tavor is known for its exceptional reliability, even possessing over-the-beach capabilities, allowing it to fire without issues even when partially immersed in water.
IMI GALIL
Israel Military Industries (IMI) developed the Galil, an assault rifle that draws its origins from the Finnish Rk 62 rifle. The Rk 62, in turn, is a derivative of the Kalashnikov rifle and shares several key characteristics with it. The initial concept for the Galil design can be traced back to an early prototype referred to as the “Balashnikov.”
The Galil’s receiver is constructed from robust machined steel, designed to withstand the high pressures generated by NATO cartridges. To prevent corrosion, all external metal surfaces are parkerized. In contrast to the AK-47, the charging handle is situated on top of the receiver cover, pointing upward. This positioning makes it easier to charge the weapon with your left hand. The Galil shares the same operational mechanism as the Kalashnikov: a permanently linked actuator rod connected to the bolt carrier. When a round is fired, gas pressure impacts this rod, driving the bolt carrier rearward and initiating the bolt’s rotation for unlocking. Subsequently, the bolt performs the primary extraction movement on the spent casing, ensuring reliable extraction and ejection.
IMI Galil rifles are shoulder-fired, gas-operated select-fire firearms. They are designed to accept 35-round box magazines. Inserting the magazine is achieved through a “rocking” action, where the lug at the front of the magazine engages with its corresponding recess in the magazine well. It is then pulled backward until it securely clicks into place. To activate the charging handle, the safety selector must be turned off. To chamber a round, the charging handle is pulled all the way to the rear and then released. As the bolt carrier group moves forward, the bolt removes a cartridge from the magazine and feeds it into the chamber.
READ HERE – How To Become A Garud Commando | Indian Air Force Garud Commando
BERETTA 92
The Beretta 92 is a semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Beretta of Italy. Its development took place in 1972, and various versions chambered in different calibers are still in production today. Initially, the Model 92 pistols were designed for the Italian military and police forces, but they became well-known, both positively and negatively, as the standard sidearm of the U.S. military. This handgun was developed between 1970 and 1975 with the intent to replace the Beretta M951 pistol, and it entered production in Italy in 1976.
The initial Model 92 handguns had a frame-mounted safety that was engaged only when the hammer was cocked. Subsequent models featured a slide-mounted safety lever or, in some cases, had no safety lever at all. All currently manufactured handguns come with an automatic firing pin block safety.
Starting from 1981, on all 92-series handguns, the magazine release button is located at the base of the trigger guard. Beretta has introduced various compact versions of its standard Model 92 variants. The Compact Type M models have single-stack magazines with slimmer grips, shorter grips, slides, and barrels.
GLOCK
Glock is a well-known brand recognized for its semi-automatic, striker-fired pistols equipped with a polymer frame. These pistols are available in various calibers and are designed and manufactured in Austria, with some production also taking place in the United States.
The Glock 17 made its initial appearance during weapons evaluations conducted by the Austrian Army in the early 1980s. When it entered service, it was designated as the P80. In 1988, the Swedish Army assigned it the designation Pistol 88. It’s worth noting that the “17” in Glock 17 doesn’t signify its magazine capacity but rather represents Gaston Glock’s 17th patent. This model is also utilized by the Norwegian Army and police. Glock handguns have undergone several modifications over the years and have earned a reputation for their exceptional reliability and performance.
Glock pistols share common design features that make them highly reliable and safe firearms. They are all striker-fired and operate using a short-recoil mechanism with a locked breech. Glock incorporates several safety features into their pistols, collectively referred to as the “safe action” system.
These safety features include:
- Trigger Safety: A lever integrated into the trigger mechanism that prevents the trigger from moving unless the lever is pressed first.
- Striker Safety: This is a spring-loaded pin connected to the trigger assembly by an extension bar. It ensures that the firing pin (striker) cannot impact the primer of a cartridge until the trigger is intentionally pulled.
- Drop Safety: A mechanism that ensures the pistol won’t discharge even if it’s dropped.
The striker (firing pin) remains in a safe, non-firing position until the trigger is engaged. This multi-layered safety system contributes to the overall reliability and safety of Glock firearms.
