Indian Army to Get Advanced Night Sights for SIG 716 Rifles in Major Defence Deal

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract worth Rs 659.47 crore for the procurement of advanced Night Sights (Image Intensifiers) for the Indian Army’s 7.62×51 mm SIG 716 assault rifles. This significant deal is aimed at boosting the operational effectiveness of soldiers during night-time and low-light operations.

Enhanced Night-Time Combat Capability

The new Night Sights will allow soldiers to accurately engage targets up to an effective range of 500 metres, even in minimal light, such as starlit conditions. This represents a marked improvement over the older Passive Night Sights (PNS) currently in use. By fitting the SIG 716 assault rifles with this technology, the Army will be able to fully utilize the longer effective range of the weapon, giving troops a significant tactical advantage at night.

Boost for ‘Make in India’ Defence

The procurement is classified as a ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ case, meaning it has over 51 per cent indigenous content. This classification marks a major step towards Aatmanirbharata (self-reliance) in defence manufacturing. The contract was signed with a consortium led by M/s MKU Ltd and including M/s Medbit Technologies Pvt Ltd. This initiative is also expected to enhance the capabilities of the domestic defence industry and create opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) involved in the supply chain.