Context:
The Ministry of Defence has signed a repeat order for 73,000 SIG716 rifles from Sig Sauer of the U.S., with deliveries scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.
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- The contract, finalised in June 2024, stipulates that delivery will occur within 18 months of the agreement.
- Previously, the Army procured and integrated 72,400 SIG-716 rifles from Sig Sauer under a ₹700 crore fast-track procurement contract signed in February 2019.
- The Army has long sought to replace the indigenous INSAS (Indian National Small Arms System) rifles with a modern alternative.
- The SIG-716 weighs 3.82 kg, has an effective range of 600 metres, and is considered more capable and reliable than the INSAS rifles currently in use. It uses the heavier 7.62 mm ammunition compared to the 5.56 mm of the INSAS.
- Initially, a small batch of SIG716 rifles was planned, with the larger requirement to be fulfilled by manufacturing the Russian AK-203 rifles under a licence.
- However, due to significant delays in the AK-203 deal, the Army opted for a repeat order of an additional 72,400 SIG-716 rifles.
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Other such Deals
With Russia
- Recently, the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture between India and Russia, has produced and delivered 35,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles to the Indian Ministry of Defence.
- The joint venture was established in 2019 between the former Ordnance Factory Board (now Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL)) from India and Rosoboronexport (RoE) and Kalashnikov concern from Russia in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
- Under a contract valued at over ₹5000 crore signed in July 2021, more than 6.1 lakh AK-203 rifles are set to be manufactured in India with technology transfer from Russia through IRRPL.
- As per contractual terms, the first 70,000 rifles will be produced in India with localization increasing from 5% to 70% in phases. The remaining rifles will be produced with 100% localization.
With Israel
- In support of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, India-made Israeli Tavor X 95 rifles are now being supplied to central forces and various state police teams.
- Previously, these assault rifles were imported from the Israel Weapons Industry (IWI), a former Israeli government firm that was privatised in 2005.
- In a significant boost to the domestic small arms industry, two of the latest Israeli assault rifles — the Arad and the Carmel — are set to be manufactured in India.
- The rifles will be produced under the ‘Make in India’ initiative at a plant in Madhya Pradesh, established in 2017 by Israel Weapons Industry (IWI) through a joint venture with PLR Systems.
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