India Expands Firepower with Additional SIG716 Rifles

India has ordered 73,000 additional SIG716 rifles from US firearms maker Sig Sauer, enhancing its military capabilities amid tensions with China. The decision, approved by the Defence Acquisitions Council, aims to modernize the Indian Army with advanced weaponry, adding to the original 72,400 rifles procured in 2019.

India has bolstered its military arsenal by ordering an additional 73,000 SIG716 rifles from US firearms manufacturer Sig Sauer, the company confirmed. This move is part of a broader initiative to modernize the Indian Army amidst ongoing border tensions with China in eastern Ladakh.

The Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) greenlit the procurement in December, following the initial contract awarded to Sig Sauer in 2019 for 72,400 rifles. The latest order will bring the total number of SIG716 rifles in service with the Indian Army to 145,400.

Sig Sauer expressed pride in contributing to the modernization of the Indian Army, with company President and CEO Ron Cohen highlighting the platform's performance and reliability. The SIG716 features a 16-inch barrel, M-LOK handguard, and a 6-position telescoping stock, marking a significant upgrade over the indigenously made INSAS rifles.

(With inputs from agencies.)