Bend & Aim: DRDO’s Corner-Shot Weapon Provides a Vital Eye for Cops

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir police are in the process of inducting a corner-shot weapon system (CSWS) conceived and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune developed the CSWS as a special purpose weapon. It is ideally suited for urban, close quarter scenarios since it can engage targets situated behind corners while the system bends and gathers video feed, saving soldiers from any surprise counter-attack.

“The project was finished in March 2019 and has subsequently passed user trials with a number of Central Armed Police Forces” (CAPF). The CRPF and the J&K police are in the process of procuring weapons, according to a defence official.

The process started roughly a decade ago. The technology was given to Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Pune and Zen Technologies Limited in Hyderabad for production in July 2020, according to the official.

In the recent India–Japan bilateral army exercise Dharma Guardian–2022, which ended on March 10 in Belagavi, Karnataka, a few systems were deployed. The technology was briefed to the Japanese side, and both sides utilised it to practise room intervention to neutralise hostile elements.

The weapon, camera, laser, infrared illuminator, and torch are positioned in the front portion of the CSWS, while the display, electronics, battery, and swivelling mechanism are located in the back portion, according to the official. To make it lighter and more robust, the body is built of a high–grade aluminium alloy.

Day-night firing capability, colour display, digital zoom, zeroing facility, hot keys, high-capacity battery, status display, and compliance with JSS 5855, according to the official, make it a very powerful system for security forces engaged in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism (CI/CT) operations.

There are major benefits.

According to the official, this indigenously created and produced system has several advantages over current international systems and is available in 9 mm GLOCK 17/19 and 1A1 Auto Pistol variants.

One of the executives emphasised the attempt to integrate domestic industry as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar’ project, saying that the industry was part of the development phase, which allowed them to absorb technology better.

The prototypes were created by the two industries throughout development and during the trials, according to the official, to ensure that there were no gaps in manufacturing at a later time. “The technical trials have been completed, and the system is completely operational.” “It’s also an excellent export option,” the official added.

Following the Mumbai terror strikes on 26/11 in 2008, both the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Army projected a need for corner shot weapons to equip their forces for urban warfare, when security personnel are exposed while attempting to detect or flush out terrorists. Both had then issued tenders for their acquisition.