Caracal to open new plants worldwide as demand rises
Caracal, the biggest small arms maker in the Middle East, plans to open new plants around the world as demand for its products grows.
The company has four factories, in Abu Dhabi, Algeria, Germany and the US. It manufactures pistols and rifles for military use.
“We want to open more facilities due to higher demand for our products,” chief executive Hamad Al Ameri told The National on the sidelines of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference yesterday.
“We are currently in negotiations to open a facility in India.”
Caracal is one of 25 entities within the UAE’s defence conglomerate Edge.
Mr Al Ameri said the company had also finalised a deal
with the Indian government to supply 93,000 rifles valued at $100 million.
“What makes our products unique is that they were made for the environment of the
Middle East. So, if it works here, it works in any other environment.”
The company unveiled its second-generation Caracal F Gen II pistol and the CSA338 semi-automatic rifle during Idex this week.
“This pistol was on demand and everybody was waiting for the upgraded version of [the] Caracal F pistol,” he said.
The CSA338 semi-automatic rifle has a “very accurate system” that can allow a user to take shots from up to 1,400 metres away, he said.
The company also plans to export weapons to more countries.
“We are looking at more markets especially in South and East Asia,” he said.
Alongside India, the company already exports its products to South Korea and Indonesia.
Caracal is also looking at partnerships with international defence companies.