SSS Defence CEO Criticizes Govt Decision to Acquire Foreign SIG 716i Rifles Despite Better Indigenous Alternatives Available

New Delhi: The Indian government's recent decision to procure an additional 73,000 SIG 716 assault rifles from US manufacturer Sig Sauer Inc. has sparked intense debate. Vivek Krishnan, CEO of Bengaluru-based SSS Defence, expressed his frustration on social media, criticizing the government's ongoing preference for foreign-made weapons despite the much-touted "Make in India" initiative.

In a five-point post, Krishnan highlighted the difficulties faced by domestic defence manufacturers in competing with foreign companies, particularly when the government prioritizes imports over local production. He emphasized that SSS Defence, a company with a 70-year history and an emerging player in the Indian defence sector, has been diligently developing world-class small arms, yet these efforts seem overlooked.

Krishnan began his post by expressing disappointment with the government's decision, stating that a private solicitation with an emphasis on Indian design and content would have easily identified suitable domestic contenders. He questioned the seriousness of the "Make in India" initiative in the defence sector, pointing out hurdles faced by Indian manufacturers and stressing the need for greater support and patience to foster indigenous weapon development.

He further criticized the government, stating that the private sector is attempting to undo the damage inflicted by government-owned companies over the years in defence manufacturing. He challenged the Indian Army to test SSS Defence's rifles against global benchmarks and make the results public, as "real serious armies" do.

Krishnan's post triggered a debate, with several prominent journalists, ex-servicemen, commentators, and former bureaucrats voicing their opinions. Ravi Kumar Gupta, a former DRDO scientist and commentator, backed Krishnan and urged Indian decision-makers to take his challenge seriously. He emphasized the need to listen to industry voices and give due consideration to what Indian companies can produce domestically.

Gupta directly urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to address Krishnan's concerns, stressing the importance of comparing indigenously made weapons with those from other countries. He expressed hope that the Army would accept Krishnan's challenge honestly, overcoming the lure of imports and kickbacks.

This incident highlights the ongoing struggle faced by domestic defence manufacturers in India, even as the government promotes the "Make in India" initiative. It underscores the need for greater transparency and support for local companies to strengthen India's defence capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign imports.

 

[YAMA]

Sell it to the Americans. And when they resell it back to us, then our Imported Army would happily purchase it .

 

[Tower]

What more do you expect from a world class fighting force led by tier 2 officers supported by a crooked bureaucracy?

 

[Rajesh Gonsalves]

Krishnan, There has to be something or some drawback which Indian defence ministry must have considered. Yes We want to modernize military with latest equipments. There has to be a reason for this. So maybe some drawbacks. Just you cannot say make in India means purchase my products. Instead try to find out the flaws and rectify it.

 

[Sandeep]

I really feel sorry for sss defence. Even after putting thier heart and soul into it, and trying to get on board the fake train of atmanirbhar bharat advertised by gov, they are not even given a chance to compete. First, they were ousted in carbine race by financial clause and now this. Atleast they should have got a chance to compete among the best by putting thier products under trial. But then, what can we say about IA procurement which is world famous as Import Army. Any sane country would have worked with thier startups to get thier products developed, tested, inducted and refined. But our IA, does the opposite and goes around town that we brown skinned people are not capable of developing even a basic rifle. Just look at colt rifle development from 1962 to present day and how many rifle version has been released. They didn't get into blame game, because they have long term vision while we have myopia at best.
And then we have the flawed L1 system, where LMT is given order for ASMI. What further r&d will LMT do in small arms that we can expect in future or is that what exactly IA wants.
The only silver lining is, DRDO has been smart enough to slowly move away from IA related equipments. IA will understand thier mistakes during wartime.

Nobody is stopping him for carrying out comparisons.

 

[Sandeep]

We are buying 400 or so strykers, isn't that enough

Actually no we aren’t. The government haven’t said that they are buying those vehicles and all they said was to evaluate the vehicles. You should read news more carefully and from which source which have their own agenda.

 

[Sandeep]

If u want to give Americans, give something we don't have. Not kill our own industries, because that's exactly what the Americans, west and chinese want.

Our industry has just about started and growing in the private sector and there’s still no guarantee that their products would meet the military’s requirements and tests. They put in very stringent standards and requirements that even many foreign guns don’t pass the tests. For the last 15 years the military have rejected every Indian gun that was developed in India as well.

 

[Sandeep]

Why small arms are not yet on the negative import list despite local companies designing and producing them - because then corrupt ministers and officers cannot pocket bribes. Seriously if this continues then we can forget local innovation in defense. The current government has made Make in India campaign mostly useless with these imports.

First understand what has been happening and what’s led to this.

Also let me prove to you how and why the government isn’t at fault and why they went with this deal. Trials and Negotiation to buy the AK 203 and Sig started from around 2016 or even earlier because the military kept on rejecting all indigenous guns that was developed for the last 15 years. Our military was running dangerously low on active service guns which were acceptable and safe to use and most had already been in service for around 40 years which is way past its lifespan. Also on top of that our army were in a state of war against Pakistan already with cross border firings, surgical strikes and terrorist strikes on a daily basis and in 2016 when we conducted our cross border strike it showed some of our weaknesses with the rest of the army units manning the border as they didn’t have proper, reliable or modern guns which is when they started searching and negotiating to import the guns or make it in India. Then in 2019 we had the balakot strike and the government had to make a decisive decision on manufacturing the Ak203 in India and to import the Sig guns based on the price, ToT, quality and the shortest possible time frame to get them in service which is how they came this these deals and the urgency.

At that stage SSS had only just started the company and beginning to develop new weapons. They didn’t have the large manufacturing capability to meet such a large order in such a short time and didn’t have the financial security requirement in the bank which is necessary on large scale orders. Unfortunately they arrived too late and didn’t meet the requirements.

 

[Sandeep]

Someone in Army procurement muzzled made in India probably for personal gain. American paid huge money plus other gifts to entice purchase Corruption exist in our Armed services

No it’s very difficult for the military to receive bribes and get away with them because of the strict rules and checks. Read my answer above for you to understand why we made this purchase.

 

[Sandeep]

There is no value in this country for Talent, better shift your business to other countries.

Read my answer above for you to understand why we had to place foreign orders.

 

[Sandeep]

Bharat should have gone for under Make in India instead of importing with Indigenous content its would have been easy for repair & maintainace for SIG-716 Rifle

Read my answer to understand why this deal was made.

 

[choriyan2]

Does SSS have Sig Sauer equivalent? I don't see it in their website.

 

[kumar]

Our industry has just about started and growing in the private sector and there’s still no guarantee that their products would meet the military’s requirements and tests. They put in very stringent standards and requirements that even many foreign guns don’t pass the tests. For the last 15 years the military have rejected every Indian gun that was developed in India as well.

Plz, IA procurement is way past patronizing and there's enough proof regarding thier track record for indegenization. Every startup will always be just about started until it's given fair chance to atleast access to fair trials and I am being modest and not even comparing to US MIC where there is sufficient handholding from stakeholders. This only goes to show sorry state of affairs in our country and no wonder that we continue to be the top importer in the world and this will continue for future generations until our mindset changes from buyers to builders because that's what differentiates the top from the rest.
Somehow our army is called Indian Army but turns out to be global army when it comes to procurement. The US and the foreign weapons producer must be laughing all the way to bank at our myopia seeded by stupidity.

 

[Sandeep]

Plz, IA procurement is way past patronizing and there's enough proof regarding thier track record for indegenization. Every startup will always be just about started until it's given fair chance to atleast access to fair trials and I am being modest and not even comparing to US MIC where there is sufficient handholding from stakeholders. This only goes to show sorry state of affairs in our country and no wonder that we continue to be the top importer in the world and this will continue for future generations until our mindset changes from buyers to builders because that's what differentiates the top from the rest.
Somehow our army is called Indian Army but turns out to be global army when it comes to procurement. The US and the foreign weapons producer must be laughing all the way to bank at our myopia seeded by stupidity.

There is so much opportunity at getting grants or funding for many companies under the iDEX, start up India, NIDHI fund, Bharat fund, TDF etc where people get grants up to crores based on what they have developed. The problem is that a lot of people aren’t aware of it and there is a slightly lengthy process at times before they get funding so many choose to get funded by private companies. There are also many private defence companies who are producing a lot of key technology, weapons and platforms ranging from rockets, mortars, artillery guns, artillery shells, small bullets, medium machine gun and bullets, heavy machine gun and bullets, MBRL, fighter jet, helicopters, attack helicopter, surveillance drones, kamikaze drones, grenades, mines and anti tank mines, ballistic missiles, SAM, ballistic missile defence shield, hypersonic missiles, EW, AWACS, tanks, IFV, armoured specialist vehicles, ATGM, etc etc.

For every failure or delay there’s been at least 10 successful indigenous products developed and manufactured in India.

 

[kumar]

Nobody is stopping him for carrying out comparisons.

What sort of statement is that, nobody is stopping him from carrying out comparisons?
Plz, we should stop patronizing IA procurement, to such an extent that we turn a blind eye to all its mess that it has created for itself for decades and there is nobody else to blame for its mistakes than itself.
How many weapons systems has IA inducted, especially for systems that have cleared their years of trials(infamous) and if so, are they inducted in numbers which will help establish economies of scale for future development or is it IA plan all along to place conscious piecemeal order such that MIC cannot be established? Has the IA been impartial while conducting trials of both desi and imported systems where same measurement yardstick has been applied for both desi and imported weapons?
Doesn't all the above indicate deep rot in IA procurement? Why hasn't a conscious decision taken to clean up this mess in IA procurement or does the gravy train run so deep that it has become taboo subject to even discuss about this mess?
Regarding start ups, how can we expect the start ups to have the financial muscle upfront? Does that mean we should not have startups in our country, because we are poor dirty brown people? Is it the case of best becoming the enemy of good? When our startups takes so much risk, atleast we should give fair chance by providing access to fair trials, instead of making vague statements such as it is inferior, etc and I am not even comparing our startup ecosystem to US where there is handholding at each and every step for the startups. When it becomes the norm to eliminate startups by one or other clauses, why will any sane private company come forward putting thier own money for our country and develop defence platforms. We should put money where our mouth is.
If this continues, we will continue to be top arms importer for future generations to come and that is exactly what the Americans, west/chinese want and we are well moving in that direction.

 

[ankitksinghal]

What kind of criticism?, your indigenous rifles already shown their true caliber and they are junk. Atleast government can buy this on short notice, do reengineering of these SIG Suer Rifle and make better one...otherwise go to hell...

 

[Sunny]

First understand what has been happening and what’s led to this.

Also let me prove to you how and why the government isn’t at fault and why they went with this deal. Trials and Negotiation to buy the AK 203 and Sig started from around 2016 or even earlier because the military kept on rejecting all indigenous guns that was developed for the last 15 years. Our military was running dangerously low on active service guns which were acceptable and safe to use and most had already been in service for around 40 years which is way past its lifespan. Also on top of that our army were in a state of war against Pakistan already with cross border firings, surgical strikes and terrorist strikes on a daily basis and in 2016 when we conducted our cross border strike it showed some of our weaknesses with the rest of the army units manning the border as they didn’t have proper, reliable or modern guns which is when they started searching and negotiating to import the guns or make it in India. Then in 2019 we had the balakot strike and the government had to make a decisive decision on manufacturing the Ak203 in India and to import the Sig guns based on the price, ToT, quality and the shortest possible time frame to get them in service which is how they came this these deals and the urgency.

At that stage SSS had only just started the company and beginning to develop new weapons. They didn’t have the large manufacturing capability to meet such a large order in such a short time and didn’t have the financial security requirement in the bank which is necessary on large scale orders. Unfortunately they arrived too late and didn’t meet the requirements.

First we were not low on guns, we purchased tavor and AK's from Bulgaria and could have ordered more if required. Futhermore Tavor has since long been manufactured in India along with Galil. Even if we leave this aside and go with what you are saying, since at least 5 years we have capability to manufacture small arms and ammunition in sufficient quantity and small arms made in India are available. There is no justification to import.

 

[Tls Mani]

Us it comparable in terms of delivery price & quality as security cannot wait for tantrums of local suppliers Remember what happened Indian navys order on pipavav shipyard fiasco.Total mess

 

[Puneet]

Its not the end of the road. Only the frontline troops will be equipped with Sigs. The para military and rest of the army still needs small arms. So many opportunities

 

[Dredd]

Read my answer to understand why this deal was made.

First order we can understand , but there is no reason to do followup , If IA was so interested in this weapon and 150000 was planned from beginning then this rifle should have been made in india. IA never gave chance to evaluate SSS weapon. IA should have been working with SSS to develop/improve weapon. SSS rifle is based on better technology compared to Sig716i

 

[kumar]

There is so much opportunity at getting grants or funding for many companies under the iDEX, start up India, NIDHI fund, Bharat fund, TDF etc where people get grants up to crores based on what they have developed. The problem is that a lot of people aren’t aware of it and there is a slightly lengthy process at times before they get funding so many choose to get funded by private companies. There are also many private defence companies who are producing a lot of key technology, weapons and platforms ranging from rockets, mortars, artillery guns, artillery shells, small bullets, medium machine gun and bullets, heavy machine gun and bullets, MBRL, fighter jet, helicopters, attack helicopter, surveillance drones, kamikaze drones, grenades, mines and anti tank mines, ballistic missiles, SAM, ballistic missile defence shield, hypersonic missiles, EW, AWACS, tanks, IFV, armoured specialist vehicles, ATGM, etc etc.

For every failure or delay there’s been at least 10 successful indigenous products developed and manufactured in India.

I am aware of IDEX. Tell me, how many weapons platforms has IA inducted via IDEX route? Has IDEX helped startups meet financial requirments specified in the tender? All this is good to show for presentation, but only when systems are inducted will any of it be actually usefull. As I said before, there is nothing that IA has done for indegenization, not before, not now and no roadmap at present points to any future either. Bottom line, thier track record only points to efforts to sidestep indegenization by giving one reason or the other and does not have anything to show for other than genuine attempts to block desi weapons.
Probably, if we could nail the corrupt ones in IA like VVIP chopper scam in iaf, this chandigarh lobby deep rooted nexus could have been uprooted. But nobody has the guts to call a spade a spade all in the interest of national security.

 

[real warrior]

Everyone gets a good chunk of gold from import that's the reason it's still considered better. Corruption is everywhere, defence is no exception.

 

[Krishna Murari]

It is quite important that government should support indigenous defence products specifically if they are equal to better than imported products. Now government should accept the challenge of Mr. Krishnan and Army should carryout trials with his company's guns and if they are better, government should cancel the order on foreign supplier and give the order to Indian company. As such we should not fully depend on USA as USA.is not trustworthy supplier which is visible in delay in supply of engines for LCA. In case of war, thee are more chances that USA will stop supply of critical arms and ammunition. India must be self sufficient in defence.

 

[bks78]

Govt acquired immediately because of inefficiency by Indian companies to procure which takes 2 years to provide this.