We recently reported that India's Ministry of Defense was fast-tracking the purchase of more than 72,000 SIG Sauer rifles for issue to its frontline troops. Now SIG has made it official, announcing it has entered into contract to build and deliver the SIG716 rifles. The 7.62 mm rifle is an enhanced AR platform featuring a 16" barrel, an M-Lok handguard and a six-position telescoping stock. All of the rifles will be built in SIG's New Hampshire plant.
The Indian Army, the second largest standing army in the world with more than 1.2 million active troops, is currently undergoing a comprehensive firearms procurement process to advance the capabilities of the Indian Army’s infantrymen.
“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,” said Ron Cohen, president and CEO of SIG Sauer. He continued, “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.”
For more information, visit sigsauer.com.
Additional Reading:
Fear & Loading: World's Second-Largest Army Going with SIG
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