There's a part of me that wants it to succeed. Whether or not it will is the question. A successful Indian small arms project would make their chances of producing copies of other carbines for military purposes more likely to be successful.

Interesting that they are looking at new caliber when 5.7x28 is on the market .

A good PDW is always welcome but honestly, Indian defense projects have a tendency to go sideways really fast , Like in Bollywood the seem to go for a dance sequence instead fo action LOL 

Mr. T (MrT4) said:

Interesting that they are looking at new caliber when 5.7x28 is on the market .

I love 5.7x28, but the 5.56x30 is a whole level above ballistically.

Seems based on the Colt MARS cartridge; 55gr @ 2620fps from a 10" barrel. 

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/02/21/modern-personal-defense-weapon-calibers-005-the-5-56x30mm-mars/

The cartridge may be similar in dimensions to the Colt Mars, but the ballistics are far weaker: 40 grain bullet at 2,300 fps from a 13" barrel, as far as I can make out.

"The cartridge may be similar in dimensions to the Colt Mars, but the ballistics are far weaker: 40 grain bullet at 2,300 fps from a 13" barrel, as far as I can make out."

Wow, thats terrible. 

.22 TCM (5.56x26) launches a 40gr 2000fps from a 5" barrel. It's doing 2700-2800fps from a 22"; I have little doubt it would meet or exceed 2300fps from a 13".

Full power (ie not FN SS197) 5.7x28 40gr is 1900-1950fps from a 4.75" barrel, and 2350-2450fps from a 16" PS90.  

I wonder how high the pressure of the 5.56x30 MARS was, given that it apparently was high enough to cause problems.

The MARS had problems with bulging or ruptured cases.  Energy was similar to 556 in 10' barrels. 

556insas performance is about halfway between the MARS,  and smaller 5.7x28. 

smg762 said:

The MARS had problems with bulging or ruptured cases.  Energy was similar to 556 in 10' barrels. 

I am aware. I am assuming that can be fixed with stronger cases. Or otherwise go to .221 Fireball.

As far as I can see fireball is identical to MARS other than an extra 3mm OAL. 

KAC also used the fireball for their 6MM PDW

smg762 said:

As far as I can see fireball is identical to MARS other than an extra 3mm OAL.  KAC also used the fireball for their 6MM PDW

My problem with .221 is the length of the ogive.