Defence Ministry Signs Rs 659 Crore Deal To Equip SIG 716 Rifles With Advanced Night Sights

The Defence Ministry signed a Rs 659.47 crore deal to buy advanced Night Sights for SIG 716 rifles, helping Indian soldiers aim better in darkness and boosting India’s self-reliant defence production.

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SIG 716 Rifles With Advanced Night Sights: The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday signed a deal worth Rs 659.47 crore to buy Night Sights and other parts for the 7.62×51 mm SIG 716 assault rifle. The ministry said this in an official release. The new Night Sights will help Indian Army soldiers shoot more accurately even when it is dark outside.

These sights are also called image intensifiers and they will make it easier to see and aim at targets up to 500 metres away. Soldiers can now use the full power of the SIG 716 rifle even under starlit skies. The ministry said this will give a big improvement over the old Passive Night Sights that are used right now.

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Aatmanirbhar Bharat

The government said this deal has been marked as a Buy (Indian-IDDM) case. That means more than 51% of the parts will be made in India. This shows a strong push for Aatmanirbharata or self-reliance in making defence products.

The ministry said the new step will also help Indian companies that make defence equipment. It will give more work to small and medium businesses that make small parts and raw materials for the Night Sights. The ministry shared that this move will “boost domestic defence industry capabilities and create opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) involved in making components and supplying raw materials.”

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Contract Signed with Indian Companies

The Defence Ministry signed this deal on October 15, 2025, with a group of companies led by MKU Ltd and Medbit Technologies Pvt Ltd. These companies will make and supply the new Night Sights to the Indian Army.

The ministry explained that the new devices will help soldiers use the full range of the SIG 716 Assault Rifle in low-light or night-time situations. The ministry said, “The new Night Sights will allow soldiers to exploit the longer effective range of the SIG 716 Assault Rifle fully, enhancing operational effectiveness in low-light conditions.”