In a move to strengthen the night-fighting capability of the armed forces, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday signed a ₹659.47 crore contract for the procurement of advanced Night Sight (Image Intensifier) systems for 7.62 x 51mm assault rifles of the Indian Army.
These advanced sights will enable soldiers to fully utilize the longer effective range of the SIG 716 assault rifle, enhancing operational effectiveness during low-light and night-time engagements.
The newly procured night sights are capable of engaging targets up to 500 metres even under starlit conditions. This represents a major improvement over the existing passive night sights currently in service, allowing for more accurate and longer-range engagements during critical operations.
According to Defence Ministry, the procurement classified as a Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, with over 51% indigenous content, underscores the government’s emphasis on self-reliance in defence production under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The initiative is expected to give a substantial boost to domestic industry, particularly MSMEs engaged in the manufacturing of components and the supply of raw materials, creating new opportunities in the defence manufacturing ecosystem.