SIG Sauer Confirm Additional Indian Army Order for SIG716s

India continues its quest to be the world’s largest customer for SIG Sauer’s SIG716i 7.62x51mm rifle. On 26 August, SIG Sauer announced that India’s Ministry of Defence had contracted for another 73,000 SIG716 series rifles. The first Indian order came in 2019, with a procurement of 72,400 rifles, worth a reported $72 million.

Intriguingly, a second order was reported and confirmed by SIG Sauer and the Indian government (who confirmed the order’s value as Rs.780 crore or just over $92 million) in September 2020, however, in their latest announcement SIG noted that the latest order will in fact be India’s second order. Perhaps completion of the contract negotiations was delayed.

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The second order will bring India’s inventory of SIG716i’s to 145,400 rifles. Over the past three years India’s SIG 716is have been seen in a number of in-service configurations including simply back up iron sights, Bharat Electronics Limited’s Holographic Weapon Sight and more rarely with a variable power optic. The rifles are often seen equipping units of the Indian Army's Northern command including the 16 Corps.

Here’s what SIG Sauer have to say about the substantial new contract:

“SIG SAUER, Inc., is honored to announce a second procurement contract with the Government of India, Ministry of Defence to supply an additional 73,000 SIG716 rifles. When completed, 145,400 SIG716 rifles will be in service with the Indian Army.

“We are proud to be a partner in the modernization effort of the Indian Army, and prouder still that the SIG716 rifle achieves the Ministry of Defence’s modernization goals with the second largest army in the world,” began Ron Cohen, President and CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc.

The Government of India, Ministry of Defence first awarded SIG SAUER a contract for the SIG716 in 2019 for 72,400 riles. The successful fielding and overwhelming soldier acceptance led to this follow-on award for an additional 73,000 rifles.

“Since the initial fielding of the SIG716, we have received phenomenal end-user feedback on the performance and reliability of the platform. Throughout this time, we have strengthened and further solidified our partnership with the Indian Ministry of Defence and are honored to earn their continued trust equipping their frontline infantrymen.”

The SIG716 is an enhanced AR platform chambered in 7.62 NATO featuring a 16-inch barrel, M-LOK™ handguard, and a 6-position telescoping stock. SIG SAUER designs and builds the SIG716 rifles for the Indian Army and for all of its customers in the United States.”