India’s Ministry of Defence has awarded SIG Sauer a follow-on contract to provide 73,000 SIG716 rifles for the army.
The order builds on an initial agreement signed in 2019 for 72,400 weapons, increasing the service’s SIG716 stock to 145,400. About 10,000 were delivered to the army’s northern command the same year.
The latest procurement’s approval in December 2023 came shortly after a standoff at India and China’s Himalayan border.
Meanwhile, New Delhi revealed that the guns will be utilized for counter-terrorism and related missions in Jammu and Kashmir, where Muslim and Hindu militants continue to clash over territorial claims.
Continued Frontline Support
The SIG716 is a 7.62 NATO-standard assault weapon based on the New Hampshire company’s proven SIG516 design.
It has a 16-inch barrel, an advanced attachment system for modern accessories, and a six-position telescoping stock for enhanced shooting control.
“We are proud to be a partner in the modernization effort of the Indian Army, and prouder still that the SIG716 rifle achieves the Ministry of Defence’s modernization goals with the second largest army in the world,” SIG Sauer President and CEO Ron Cohen stated.
“Since the initial fielding of the SIG716, we have received phenomenal end-user feedback on the performance and reliability of the platform.”
“Throughout this time, we have strengthened and further solidified our partnership with the Indian Ministry of Defence and are honored to earn their continued trust equipping their frontline infantrymen.”