The Government of India, Ministry of Defense recently awarded a contract to SIG Sauer to deliver 72,400 SIG716 rifles. Moreover, expectations are the rifles will outfit frontline infantry soldiers. Additionally, more than 1.2 million troops serve in India, making it the second largest standing army in the world, according to SIG.
“This is the first large firearms procurement of the Indian Government in decades, and the explicit mission for this tender was to modernize the infantry troopers of the Indian Army with the best rifle available,” began Ron Cohen, President and CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc. “We competed in an open tender with small arms manufacturers from around the world. The SIG716 rifle underwent a comprehensive and exhaustive testing and evaluation process where it outperformed the competition, and was ultimately chosen, and met all the criteria, as the best rifle to modernize the Indian Army.”
The SIG716 is an enhanced AR platform featuring a 16-inch barrel, M-LOK handguard, and a 6-position telescoping stock.
“The global importance of this contract for SIG SAUER is far reaching based on the size, location, and economic strength of India in the global market. We are very proud, and honored that the SIG716 was chosen for use by the fighting forces of the Indian Army, and we are looking forward to developing a strong partnership with India’s Ministry of Defense,” added Cohen.
SIG Sauer SIG716 Features
Firstly, the SIG716, chambered in 7.62 NATO, features a four-position, adjustable gas system. Moreover, this system enables the rifle effectively operate various ammunition types, as well as many suppressors.
Further, the U.S. civilian market features two variants, the SIG716 Patrol and SIG716 DMR. Additionally, the Patrol employs a 16-inch, free-floated barrel mounted into a quad-rail system. Also, the Patrol utilizes flip-up sights and a Cerakote coating. Meanwhile, the DMR features an 18-inch threaded barrel. Finally, an included Harris bi-pod and two-stage match trigger make the DMR ready for extended ranges.
For more information, visit sigsauer.com.
