How made-in-India assault rifles are saluting defence hero Manohar Parrikar

New Delhi,UPDATED: May 12, 2026 15:10 IST

There are leaders who serve competently, and then there are those whose vision leaves a lasting imprint on the nation. Manohar Parrikar belonged to the latter category. An engineer-politician, Parrikar brought deep domain understanding to the defence ministry, and remains one of the most respected figures in India's national security establishment even years after his death. Today, his legacy has taken a unique, tangible form — a series of indigenous firearms that now stand guard with Indian forces. The rifles carry the initials of his full name — Manohar Gopalakrishnan Parrikar — as the M, G, P series.

Defence analyst and senior journalist Sandeep Unnithan recently drew attention to this quiet tribute in a video posted on X, highlighting how a private Indian company, SSS Defence, has chosen to honour the former defence minister not just in words, but through weapons designed and built in India.

Unnithan described Parrikar as "one of India's greatest defence ministers ever", and "a leader still fondly remembered by the country's defence industrial complex". He pointed how the Bengaluru-based firm SSS Defence named three of its weapons after the late politician.

"Here's the M72, M for Manohar, that's a 5.56x45 assault rifle. G72, G for Gopalakrishnan, chambered for the 9x19 Parabellum round. And finally you have the star of the show, the P72, P for Parrikar, chambered for 7.62x39 assault rifle," Unnithan said in the video, showcasing the weapons.

WHY IS MANOHAR PARRIKAR CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST DEFENCE MINISTERS IN INDIA?

Manohar Parrikar, who served as Union Defence Minister from November 2014 to March 2017, with a brief return later, is credited with injecting fresh momentum into India's defence establishment at a critical time. A metallurgical engineer from IIT Bombay and a leader known for his simplicity and integrity, Parrikar brought a pragmatic, hands-on approach to the ministry.

His tenure saw several landmark decisions. He pushed aggressively for "Make in India" in defence, revising the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) in 2016 to prioritise indigenisation and ease bureaucratic hurdles. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in defence was raised to 49%, opening doors for private players. Parrikar reformed the blacklisting policy that had previously stalled deals, and he set up the Shekatkar Committee to recommend ways to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence spending.

Vivek Krishnan, CEO of SSS Defence, told India Today Digital that naming the M, G and P series rifles after Manohar Parrikar was a tribute as well as a recognition of his transformative contribution to India's defence industry.

"Before Mr Parrikar came in as the defence minister, the defence sector was pretty much over-regulated and over-licensed. Private sector participation, especially in offensive weapons, was almost minuscule. It was post-2016, after the Arms Rules 2016 were announced, that it became possible for private companies to enter this space," said Krishnan.

He explained that the naming began with the P72 rifle. "The first thing we did was naming the P-72 after Mr Parrikar. And then very shortly when the other weapons came in, we said we've got to complete this whole thing [naming tribute]. So we kept M and P and G," he added.

SSS Defence is a fully integrated original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and part of the Stumpp Schuele & Somappa Group, which has over 70 years of precision engineering experience. Founded with a focus on small arms in 2017, SSS Defence designs, develops, tests and certifies its weapons in India, maintaining full control over intellectual property and quality.

MORE ABOUT THE M, G, P GUNS NAMED AFTER MANOHAR PARRIKAR

Krishnan, CEO of SSS Defence, elaborated on the company's three rifles — the M72, G72, and P72.

All three weapons are completely indigenous. "Our weapon is unique in one respect — it is a private sector designed, manufactured, and certified weapon. We don't have any government design on these, neither do we have any foreign technology. This is 100% indigenous design and manufactured. Our Indian content on this one is 100%. Not even 99%, it's 100%," Krishnan said.

The M72 is a 5.56x45mm carbine. Uttar Pradesh Police has already inducted 2,000 units, while Meghalaya Police and Haryana Police have also procured and inducted the weapon.

Krishnan added that the entire M72 family has been submitted for the United Kingdom's infantry modernisation programme and the company is in early-stage discussions with the UK.

The G72 is a 9x19mm Parabellum submachine gun. It has already been inducted into service with multiple state police forces, including Uttar Pradesh Police, Punjab Police, and Meghalaya Police. The National Security Guard (NSG) has also acquired the G72 after going through a formal tender and trial process.

The P72 is a 7.62x39mm assault rifle based on an AK variant. It has won orders from Uttar Pradesh Police and will be inducted shortly. Krishnan noted that the P72 is expected to find strong application both in Indian police and paramilitary forces as well as in international markets.

Krishnan said the company is actively looking beyond India. "We are not only looking at the Indian market, we are also going into foreign markets at this point in time." He added that in the course of time, the G72 and the other rifles are expected to be used by multiple international militaries as well. He highlighted that the P72 could see good demand globally because many countries are seeking reliable 7.62x39mm options as supplies from traditional sources face constraints.

GROWTH OF INDIA'S PRIVATE DEFENCE SECTOR IN SMALL ARMS

Parrikar's reforms have particularly had a lasting impact on the small arms segment, which for decades was dominated by government ordnance factories and imports.

The Indian Ordnance Factories (IOF) have long been the primary and traditional suppliers of small arms to the Indian armed forces and paramilitary organisations, and even civilian arms. While serving as the traditional backbone of India's small arms production for decades, the IOF has frequently faced scrutiny over quality consistency and delays in meeting the evolving requirements of modern forces.

Since the mid-2010s, India's defence production has grown significantly, touching over Rs 1.27 lakh crore in FY24, with the private sector's share rising to around 21%. Defence exports have hit record levels, and private companies are now leading in niche areas like small arms, where India was once almost entirely dependent on imports.

The opening up of industrial licences for small arms manufacturing, combined with a policy push and stricter indigenisation requirements, has encouraged many new players to enter the domain.

OTHER BIG PROCUREMENTS THAT HAPPENED UNDER PARRIKAR

Not just small arms, even big-ticket procurements moved forward under the late defence minister's watch, including the Rafale fighter jet deal, where he helped break a long-standing logjam by opting for a government-to-government purchase of 36 jets, and the initial groundwork for the S-400 air defence system from Russia.

He oversaw the 2016 Uri surgical strikes across the Line of Control, signalling a shift to proactive responses against terrorism. Parrikar also delivered on the One Rank One Pension (OROP) promise for ex-servicemen and gave the armed forces greater operational freedom.

Defence experts often highlight how Parrikar empowered the private sector, moving away from over-reliance on public sector undertakings and imports. It was Parrikar's focus on self-reliance that laid the foundation for the growth seen in India's defence manufacturing today. And today, fully made-in-India assault rifles are paying a glowing tribute to him.

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