Indian Army to acquire additional 70,000 SiG Sauer assault rifles: Know how deadliest the rifle is?

New Delhi: In a bid to strengthen its defense system with advanced weaponry, the Indian Army is looking forward to procuring an additional 70,000 American-made SiG Sauer assault rifles (7. 62×51 mm calibre), which will enhance the combat potential of the soldiers, especially those deployed in counterterrorism operations and other major duties. The order for the weapon, which is expected to boost the firepower of the troops deployed along the borders, will be completed with an investment of Rs 840 crore.

How crucial are the SiG Sauer assault rifles? The move of the Army came amid the rising military standoff along the Indian-China border in the Ladakh region and extensive counterterrorism operations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir against Pakistan-funded terrorist activities. Why SiG Sauer assault rifles? Because of its high calibre and extended range, the SiG Sauer SiG 716 assault rifle became the optimal choice for the Indian Defence Force. Also, the SiG 716 assault rifles are comparatively more lethal than the AK-47 and INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) Rifle.

Initially, the Indian Defence Force planned to procure long-range assault rifles, which led them to the SiG Sauer SiG 716. Since its induction in the Indian Defence Force in 2019, the Army has been using ammunition made by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), with no reports of performance issues. How lethal is the Sig Sauer 716 assault rifle? Designed and developed by the American company SIG Sauer, Inc (stylized as SIG SAUER), the Sig Sauer 716 assault rifle is capable of firing 7.

62 x 51mm calibre bullets at a range of 600 metres. Notably, the fire range of the Sig Sauer 716 is twice that of the AK-47 which has a firing range of 300 metres. Moreover, this will allow soldiers to neutralise terrorists without going closer to them.

INSAS can fire at a range of 400 metres, killing enemies with its 5. 56mm caliber bullets, when fired from very close range. However, its bullets injure the enemy when fired from long range, allowing the opponent to keep fighting even after being hit by several bullets.

Following this drawback of the rifles, the force opted for the Sig Sauer 716 assault rifle. The SiG 716 rifle is equipped with picatinny rails, enabling the attachment of various accessories such as under barrel grenade launchers, optical sights, forehand grips, laser pointers and bipods without modifying the weapon. Similar to the AK-47, the SiG 716 assault rifle has an automatic firing mode.

This feature of the assault rifle puts it in a different queue from the INSAS, which has a three-round burst mode. To optimise this feature of the SiG 716 rifle, the Army has procured bipods, which will allow multiple uses of the weapon and enhance its effective range. The birth of the Sig Sauer 716 assault rifle The American soldiers faced a similar range issue, as faced by the Indian soldiers during operations, against encounters with the Taliban.

Following which, the US decided to develop a brand-new assault rifle with long range, resulting in the birth of the Sig Sauer 716 assault rifle. Which SiG Sauer assault rifles are used by the Indian Defence Force? According to sources in the defence and security establishment, the proposal for the purchase of additional assault rifles was approved during the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting held recently in the national capital. As per the reports, these rifles were previously bought to replace the INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifles (5.

56 x 45 mm). In February 2019, Indian inked a deal for the procurement of rifles with the manufacturer for around 72,400 Sig Sauer Assault Rifles of 7. 62 x 51mm calibre at an investment of Rs 694 crore.

Among the total, 66,400 rifles were bought for the Army, 4,000 for the Air Force and 2,000 for the Navy. Those rifles are currently being used by the soldiers deployed along LAC(Line of Actual Control) borders with China and LOC (Lone of Control) Pakistan. .