It was then revealed that while SSS Defence used ammunition specified by CRPF, its two competitors used Hollow Point Boat Tail (HPBT) ammunition—which provides more stability and better accuracy—in the field trials.
Use of HPBT rounds provided the other two bidders, PLR Systems (a joint venture between Adani Group and Israel Weapon Industries) and ICOMM (a MEIL group company in collaboration with CARACAL from UAE), an unfair advantage, argued SSS Defence before the Delhi High Court.
On 8 April, the high court interim order noted that CRPF offered to hold a retrial as per the requirements of the tender, and quashed SSS Defence’s disqualification from the process. The three bidders for the contract had all failed various parts of the two field trials held in January and February of this year, however, SSS Defence was the only bidder to be disqualified.
The first field trial held in Pune in January, saw the SSS Defence sniper rifle clear the 400-metre test, while PLR failed. However, given that the trial was inconclusive, it was decided to hold a second field trial in February.
It was after the second trials were concluded, that SSS Defence noticed the difference in the ammunition used by the two other bidders and at the end of February raised the violation of tender norms with the authorities. This was followed up with meetings with CRPF officials. But at the end of March, SSS Defence received a notice that their bid was rejected during the technical evaluation stage of the bid, without any reasoning given.
Subsequently, SSS Defence approached Delhi High Court, which in an order dated 8 April, quashed rejection of its bid, while CRPF submitted to the court that it would hold a retrial for procurement of 200 sniper rifles.
SSS Defence is a Bengaluru based small arms manufacturer which last year bagged and fulfilled a contract for the export of .338 Lapua Magnum calibre sniper rifle to a friendly foreign country.
It was the first time an Indian manufacturer exported sniper rifles to a foreign country.
Last year, the CEO of the Bengaluru-based small arms manufacturer in a rare instance, spoke out against the Indian Army’s fresh order for 73,000 SIG 716 G2 rifles from the US.
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Procurement process in a nutshell
The original tender was floated in September 2024, with a clear requirement for 200 sniper rifles, along with a day scope and 20,000 rounds of the .338 Lapua Magnum ball/lock base ammunition.
In December 2024, SSS Defence submitted two rifles along with ammunition as samples to the CRPF. Field trials were scheduled for January 2025, in Pune. But the tests were inconclusive, which led to a second set of field trials organised for February 2025.
The second field trials were held in Gurugram at the end of February, following which SSS Defence noticed discrepancies in ammunition used by the other bidders. Despite raising it with the authorities at the end of March, it was rejected by CRPF during the technical evaluation stage.
On 8 April, the Delhi High Court ordered the quashing of the rejection, and ruled that the process would be held again and completed within 45 days.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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