India Expands SiG Sauer Rifle Stockpile with Latest US Deal -

India has finalized another deal to procure 73,000 SiG Sauer assault rifles from the United States. This new acquisition follows the purchase of 72,400 similar rifles intended for frontline Army troops, particularly in response to the ongoing tensions with China in eastern Ladakh.

Specifications and Deployment

The SiG-716 ‘Patrol’ rifles, which are 7.62x51mm caliber weapons with an effective range of 500 meters, are designated for infantry units stationed along the borders with China and Pakistan. A source disclosed that this repeat order is valued at ₹837 crores.

Delays in AK-203 Production

India had initially planned to manufacture Russian AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles domestically. However, delays in production led to the import of 72,400 SiG-716 rifles in the first batch under a ₹647 crore agreement with US firm SiG Sauer in February 2019. This procurement was conducted through the fast-track route due to the urgent requirements of the Army, Air Force, and Navy.

Additional Orders and Recent Developments

In December of last year, the Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the purchase of an additional 73,000 SiG-716 rifles. Alongside this, the Army is also acquiring 40,949 light machine guns, a procurement approved by the DAC in August 2023 at an estimated cost of ₹2,165 crores.

Progress on AK-203 Rifles

Earlier this year, the Army received the first batch of 35,000 AK-203 rifles, which were assembled at the Korwa ordnance factory in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi district under the Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited joint venture. Over the next decade, six lakh AK-203 rifles are expected to be produced at this facility to meet the needs of the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy.

Challenges in AK-203 Project

The AK-203 project, initially announced in 2018, faced significant delays due to issues related to cost, royalty, technology transfer, and indigenization. These challenges stalled the production of the rifles, as previously reported.

Army’s Confidence in SiG-716 Rifles

Despite some reports of issues with the SiG-716 rifles, the Army has expressed confidence in the US-made rifles, citing their longer range, higher lethality, and greater recoil compared to indigenous INSAS (5.56×51 mm) or AK-47 rifles. The Army has also been utilizing ammunition produced by Indian ordnance factories for these rifles. Additionally, the rifles are equipped with Picatinny rails, allowing for the attachment of various accessories like optical sights, under-barrel grenade launchers (UBGL), forehand grips, bipods, and laser pointers without any modifications.