The new rifles will replace the existing Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) rifles used by the forces and manufactured locally by the Ordnance Factories Board

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing dispute with China over boundary issue, the Indian Army is going to place another order of 72,000 Sig 716 assault rifles from the United States. The order for the second batch of the assault rifles would be coming after the first lot of 72,000 rifles, has already been delivered to the Army for use by troops in Northern Command and other operational areas.

“We are going to place an order for 72,000 more of these rifles under the financial powers granted to the armed forces,” Defence sources told ANI.

The Indian Army had received the first lot of Sig Sauer assault rifles to boost its counter-terrorism operations.

India had acquired the rifles under the fast-track procurement (FTP) program.

The new rifles will replace the existing Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) 5.56x45mm rifles used by the forces and manufactured locally by the Ordnance Factories Board.

As per the plan, around 1.5 lakh imported rifles were to be used by the troops in the counter-terrorism operations and frontline duties on the Line of Control (LoC), the remaining forces would be provided with the AK-203 rifles, which are to be produced jointly by India and Russia at Amethi ordnance factory.

The purchase is likely to be cleared at the next meeting of the Defence Procurement Board, headed by defence secretary Ajay Kumar, and if necessary, the meeting of the apex Defence Acquisition Council headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh.