Indian Army Orders More SIG SAUER Rifles

The Indian Army has placed a follow-up order for an additional 73,000 SIG716 rifles from US-based SIG SAUER, bringing the total to 145,400 rifles. This decision follows Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's recent visit to the US and builds on a previous 2019 contract for 72,400 rifles. The acquisition, valued at Rs 837 crore, comes amid delays in the domestic production of AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles, which are being jointly manufactured with Russia. The SIG716 rifles are touted for their superior range, lethality, and recoil compared to older models. The Defence Acquisition Council has also approved the procurement of 40,949 light machine guns at a cost of Rs 2,165 crore. Despite some reported issues with the SIG716, the Army maintains their overall effectiveness and reliability.