By A Correspondent
New Delhi: India’s Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth INR 659.47 crore for the procurement of advanced Night Sights (Image Intensifiers) for the 7.62×51 mm SIG 716 assault rifles of the Indian Army.
The agreement, concluded on Oct. 15, 2025, was signed with a consortium led by MKU Limited, along with Medbit Technologies Private Limited, according to a MoD statement.
The new Night Sights would significantly enhance soldiers’ operational capabilities by enabling accurate target engagement up to an effective range of 500 metres under starlit conditions.
The upgraded system represented a substantial improvement over the currently deployed Passive Night Sights (PNS), providing Indian soldiers with superior visibility and accuracy during night operations.
The procurement falls under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, which mandates a minimum of 51% indigenous content. This aligns with the government’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in defence production.
The initiative underscored India’s commitment to strengthening its domestic defence ecosystem and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
The ministry noted that the contract would bolster the capabilities of India’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which will contribute components and raw materials to the manufacturing process.
By involving local industries, the procurement would generate employment and stimulate technological innovation within the defence manufacturing sector.
The new equipment will enable Indian soldiers to fully utilise the extended effective range of the SIG 716 assault rifle, providing a critical advantage in low-light and nighttime combat scenarios.
The contract reflects the defence ministry’s continued emphasis on modernisation and indigenisation of the armed forces’ equipment, further strengthening India’s operational readiness and defence self-reliance.
NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on Arattai.
NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on Telegram.
NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on WhatsApp.
