MoD Orders 73,000 More SIG716 7.62 NATO Rifles for Indian Army

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has placed a second order with SIG SAUER, Inc. for an additional 73,000 SIG716 7.62 NATO rifles. This procurement will bring the total number of SIG716 rifles in service with the Indian Army to 145,400, making it a significant component of the army's modernization efforts.

SIG SAUER President and CEO Ron Cohen expressed pride in the company's partnership with the Indian Army and emphasized the SIG716's role in achieving the MoD's modernization goals.

The initial contract for 72,400 rifles was awarded in 2019, and the positive feedback from soldiers regarding the rifle's performance and reliability led to this second order.

The SIG716 is an enhanced AR platform chambered in 7.62 NATO, known for its power and accuracy. It features a 16-inch barrel, M-LOK handguard for attaching accessories, and a 6-position telescoping stock for adjustability. SIG SAUER designs and manufactures the SIG716 rifles in the United States, both for the Indian Army and its American customers.

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

What is the difference between SIG 716 versus AK 203?

 

[neil]

What is the difference between SIG 716 versus AK 203?

SIG716 gun is of American origin, and it's bullet caliber is 7.62 x 51mm. It's a big size bullet.. It's meant for frontline units where it's important to ensure a high one-hit-one-kill probability. It's main advantage is to ensure maximum lethality if any of it's rounds hits any enemy.

The AK203 is of Russian origin, and a modernised member of the venerable AK47 family of assault rifles. It's bullet caliber is 7.62 x 39mm. It is considerably cheaper than the American SIG716. And the smaller bullet size also allows a greater amount of rounds to be carried by a soldier. It's intended to be used by the vast majority of the regular army (employed in the second ring behind the frontline troops, and elsewhere) and also with the central forces like CRPF, ITBP, Assam Rifles etc. It is an extremely reliable gun, capable of rough use in the field and in the dirt/mud, it being of the AK47 origins. It's main advantage is it's cheaper cost.

Although, I do believe that the Army was keen on moving to the higher calibre 7.62x51 bullets for use in the hinterland's Counter-insurgency operations where it was important to ensure a kill, rather than merely injuring the enemy (which was the philosophy behind the 5.56x45mm calibre chambered INSAS rifles).

 

[Bharat007]

What is the difference between SIG 716 versus AK 203?

Sig 716 is mostly suitable for barren lands like Ladakh. As @neil mentioned, it is suitable for sniper like one shoot one kill.

 

[Taus Melek]

USA = Sig 716
Russia = AK 203
India = INSAS, the best of Indian science, technology and engineering!

 

[Indrakumar Salam]

We need to provide matching sight for this gun.

 

[NSR]

Sig Sauer 716 assault rifles are very popular in USA.
SS 716 shoots straight and true.
Our son also owns one of it.

Indian Army should order even more and get ready for two fronts war.
73,000 SS 716 will cost at most about $100 millions or less but they can produce them very quickly and deliver them for immediate use.

Too little money of something like a Rs. 1 lakh to save the precious lives of Indian soldiers and officers is money well spent.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Can we ensure that we procure or manufacture proper ammo for these guns.

 

[Kira]

SIG716 gun is of American origin, and it's bullet caliber is 7.62 x 51mm. It's a big size bullet.. It's meant for frontline units where it's important to ensure a high one-hit-one-kill probability. It's main advantage is to ensure maximum lethality if any of it's rounds hits any enemy.

The AK203 is of Russian origin, and a modernised member of the venerable AK47 family of assault rifles. It's bullet caliber is 7.62 x 39mm. It is considerably cheaper than the American SIG716. And the smaller bullet size also allows a greater amount of rounds to be carried by a soldier. It's intended to be used by the vast majority of the regular army (employed in the second ring behind the frontline troops, and elsewhere) and also with the central forces like CRPF, ITBP, Assam Rifles etc. It is an extremely reliable gun, capable of rough use in the field and in the dirt/mud, it being of the AK47 origins. It's main advantage is it's cheaper cost.

Although, I do believe that the Army was keen on moving to the higher calibre 7.62x51 bullets for use in the hinterland's Counter-insurgency operations where it was important to ensure a kill, rather than merely injuring the enemy (which was the philosophy behind the 5.56x45mm calibre chambered INSAS rifles).

Since IA is already steadily moving towards adopting the 7.62mmx51mm chambered Israeli Nagev NG-7,I think they should have simply produced this SIG-716 locally with a much larger order instead of going with the poor man's AK,which is anyway not much cheaper than the SIG-716(in large quantities).
As for ammo carrying advantage gained with the 7.62x39mm round over the larger 7.62x51mm,it's actually not much significant as the is case with the lighter 5.56x45mm rounds.
Now this will lead to even more logistical and training issues considering IA infantrymen will need to be trained with 2 different rifles firing 2 different rounds and of course not to mention various 5.56mm carbines too.
I am all for using existing AK variants and the huge latent 7.62x39mm production facilities already present in the country,but I think IA should have abandoned the ageing 7.62x39mm rifles altogether and passed the existing rifles to paramilitary and police forces.
PS - You are right about why the IA wanted to adopt the lighter 5.56mm NATO rifles in the early 90s,but ironically it was because of CI missions against LTTE in SL,where the militants armed with the AK-47/56 proved problematic for IA troops equipped with heavier 7.62x51mm firing SLR in close quarters combat.
IA is going back to the older round but for exactly opposite reasons.

 

[vamkris]

Whatever india buys let it be make in India TOT so that manufacturing jobs will increase with 4-5 differenrt companies for Indians staying in india.

 

[Enforcer]

SIG716 gun is of American origin, and it's bullet caliber is 7.62 x 51mm. It's a big size bullet.. It's meant for frontline units where it's important to ensure a high one-hit-one-kill probability. It's main advantage is to ensure maximum lethality if any of it's rounds hits any enemy.

The AK203 is of Russian origin, and a modernised member of the venerable AK47 family of assault rifles. It's bullet caliber is 7.62 x 39mm. It is considerably cheaper than the American SIG716. And the smaller bullet size also allows a greater amount of rounds to be carried by a soldier. It's intended to be used by the vast majority of the regular army (employed in the second ring behind the frontline troops, and elsewhere) and also with the central forces like CRPF, ITBP, Assam Rifles etc. It is an extremely reliable gun, capable of rough use in the field and in the dirt/mud, it being of the AK47 origins. It's main advantage is it's cheaper cost.

Although, I do believe that the Army was keen on moving to the higher calibre 7.62x51 bullets for use in the hinterland's Counter-insurgency operations where it was important to ensure a kill, rather than merely injuring the enemy (which was the philosophy behind the 5.56x45mm calibre chambered INSAS rifles).

You are misinformed and have no clue what you are talking about.

It’s not about one hit kill, it’s range and accuracy. 7.62 NATO can reach out to 800m effectively. It’s only used in front lines mostly because Pakistan uses G3 variant also 7.62 NATO rifles on front lines.

It makes sense since open fields on front lines can have engagements past 500m many times which is not suitable for AK’s 7.62x39 to reach out to. AK’s range and accurate firing max out around 200-300m.

 

[neil]

You are misinformed and have no clue what you are talking about.

It’s not about one hit kill, it’s range and accuracy. 7.62 NATO can reach out to 800m effectively. It’s only used in front lines mostly because Pakistan uses G3 variant also 7.62 NATO rifles on front lines.

It makes sense since open fields on front lines can have engagements past 500m many times which is not suitable for AK’s 7.62x39 to reach out to. AK’s range and accurate firing max out around 200-300m.

Well, you're right about the range and accuracy, of course. I neglected to include those advantages in my list. However, one shot kill is one of the advantages of this round...(It's difficult to survive a hit, unless it's an arm or leg)...although the army wanted this advantage only in CI operations, not necessarily on the frontline.

 

[Ankit Singhal]

Why?, what AK-203 cannot do that sig-suer can do?. Even this is old news, we lost 30 top soldiers recently in the hands of terrorists that is becoz of lack of security fears and proper rifles. Still army is using old AK-47s. Why defence procurement process is slow & corrupt in India?, what government wants to prove to Army?, are they deputed to just suffer & die....

 

[Hopong Sao Chang]

Sig sauer and GoI should adopt the make in India initiative, and also the contract should include building factories in India for production of 7.62*51 ammunition to be sold at localised rates, and not international rates.

 

[Avada kedavra]

Sig Sauer 716 assault rifles are very popular in USA.
SS 716 shoots straight and true.
Our son also owns one of it.

Indian Army should order even more and get ready for two fronts war.
73,000 SS 716 will cost at most about $100 millions or less but they can produce them very quickly and deliver them for immediate use.

Too little money of something like a Rs. 1 lakh to save the precious lives of Indian soldiers and officers is money well spent.

Till now they were fools to order the AKs ?

 

[Avada kedavra]

Whatever india buys let it be make in India TOT so that manufacturing jobs will increase with 4-5 differenrt companies for Indians staying in india.

No. First proority should be is to plug in the shortages.make in india job creation comes afterwards.