New Delhi: A new deal to import 73,000 additional SiG Sauer assault rifles from the US, supplementing the 72,400 rifles previously acquired for frontline Army personnel has been signed by India and deliveries are expected to completed by end-2025.
“The SiG-716 `Patrol rifles are 7.62x51mm caliber guns with an effective ‘kill’ range of 500-metre, are meant for infantry battalions deployed along the borders with China and Pakistan. It is a repeat order valued at Rs 837 crore,” said a media report quoting a source. The SiG-716 weighs 3.82 kgs and is more capable and reliable than the INSAS in use. It employs the heavier caliber 7.62 mm ammunition compared to the 5.56mm of the INSAS.
According to a defence official, the contract was signed in June 2024 and delivery is within 18 months of contract. The Army has earlier procured and inducted 72,400 SIG-716 rifles from Sig Sauer of the US through fast track procurement under a Rs 700 crore contract signed in February 2019. The delay in the manufacture of Russian AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles in India had led to the import of the first lot of 72,400 SiG-716 rifles (66,400 for the Army, 4,000 IAF and 2,000 Navy).
Ron Cohen, President and CEO, Sig Sauer said in a statement issued on August 26, “We are proud to be a partner in the modernisation effort of the Indian Army, and prouder still that the SIG716 rifle achieves the Ministry of Defence’s modernisation goals with the second largest army in the world. Since the initial fielding of the SIG716, we have received phenomenal end-user feedback on the performance and reliability of the platform.”
The company added that the successful fielding and overwhelming soldier acceptance led to this follow-on award for an additional 73,000 rifles.
The Indian Army’s acquisition of an additional 73,000 Sig Sauer assault rifles, marks a significant step in modernising the nation’s defence capabilities. The announcement comes at a crucial time, just after the return of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from his US tour, and ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected visit to the United States next month. The procurement of these rifles underscores the growing strategic partnership between India and the US, and the timing of the acquisition is indicative of a broader effort to enhance India’s military readiness in the face of emerging security challenges.
The SiG-716 assault rifles procured earlier under the deal have been provided to frontline troops involved in counter-insurgency operations. The Army has for long been looking to replace the indigenous INSAS (Indian National Small Arms System) rifles in use with a modern rifle. In September 2020, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had approved the procurement of a second batch of 72,400 SIG-716 rifles. The additional order of 73,000 rifles will bring the total number of Sig Sauer rifles in the Indian Army to approximately 145,400, significantly enhancing the firepower of India’s frontline soldiers.
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