The Indian Army is mulling over acquiring 72,000 assault rifles from U.S. manufacturer Sig Sauer.
The Army has inducted 72,400 Sig Sauer rifles, which are 7.62×51 mm caliber guns with an effective “kill” range of 500-metre, under an INR 647 crore (around $95 million) fast-track procurement (FTP) deal inked in February last year. These were procured to replace the aging INSAS rifles.
Another contract for 16,479 Israeli Negev 7.62×51 mm light machine guns (LMGs) valued INR 880 crore ($117 million) was inked this March.
India was set to buy 7.62×39 mm caliber AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles manufactured at Korwa Ordnance Factory in Uttar Pradesh state. It ran into rough weather after the joint venture between Indian Ordnance Factory Board and Russian Rosoboronexport and Kalashnikov reportedly quoted an “unreasonable and unacceptable price.”