Indian Army looking for 12,000 sniper scopes for Sig Sauer 716 assault rifles.

A proposal for the purchase of nearly 12,000 telescopic sights for new assault rifles is likely to be cleared by a high-level committee very shortly, Srinjoy Chowdhury reports in TimesNowNews. The purchase of the sights comes in the wake of reports of Pakistani jihadis being given sniper training.

Sig Sauer 716 G2 (Picture source: Sig Sauer)

These telescopic sights will be fitted onto the new generation Sig Sauer 716 G2 assault rifles that should likely be delivered to the Indian army within a year. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman approved the procurement of the Sig Sauer rifles. The rifles are being bought under the fast track procurement procedure. "The US firm will have to deliver the rifles within one year from the date of finalising the deal," said a senior official involved in negotiation of the deal said.

Army sources said the US-manufactured rifles will replace the Insas rifles. The world's second largest standing Army has been pressing for fast-tracking the procurement of various weapons systems considering the evolving security threats including along India's borders with Pakistan and China.