The Indian Ministry of Defence has approved the acquisition of 70,000 Sig Sauer SiG 716 assault rifles for the Indian Army, with a cost estimated at around 96 million US dollars.
The SiG 716 was initially chosen by the Indian forces due to its large calibre and extended range. It is a modified version of the SiG 516 model, allowing the use of larger and more powerful ammunition through the utilization of SR-25-style magazines.
Furthermore, this model can be upgraded and the Indian Army has issued a tender to local defence companies for the development and installation of 30,000 night vision devices for the rifles.