India has signed another contract to purchase 73,000 SiG Sauer assault rifles from the United States, supplementing the previous acquisition of 72,400 rifles for its frontline troops. This new Rs 837 crore deal comes amid ongoing military tensions with China in eastern Ladakh. The SiG-716 “Patrol” rifles, which are 7.62x51mm caliber and have an effective range of 500 meters, are intended for infantry units stationed along the borders with China and Pakistan.
The delay in manufacturing Russian AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles domestically prompted the initial purchase of 72,400 SiG-716 rifles in 2019 for Rs 647 crore. These rifles were fast-tracked for procurement to address immediate defense needs, with the majority going to the Army, and smaller numbers to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Navy. The recent contract for additional SiG-716 rifles was approved by the Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) in December last year.
In parallel, India is also acquiring 40,949 light machine guns at an estimated cost of Rs 2,165 crore, as approved by the DAC in August 2023. On the domestic front, the first batch of 35,000 AK-203 rifles has been delivered to the Army after assembly at the Korwa ordnance factory in Uttar Pradesh. Under a joint venture with Russia, a total of six lakh AK-203 rifles will be produced over ten years to meet the needs of the Indian Army, IAF, and Navy.
Despite delays due to issues with costs, royalties, technology transfer, and indigenization, the AK-203 project is now underway, aiming to equip the Indian armed forces with modern assault rifles. The Army has refuted reports of problems with the SiG-716 rifles, emphasizing their superior range, lethality, and adaptability compared to the indigenous INSAS and AK-47 rifles. These US-made rifles are equipped with Picatinny rails for mounting various accessories without modifications, further enhancing their operational versatility.