The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday signed a contract worth ₹659.47 crore to procure Night Sights (image intensifiers) for the 7.62x51 mm SIG 716 assault rifle, along with related accessories for the Indian Army.

According to an official release, the new Night Sights will allow soldiers to engage targets accurately up to 500 metres, even under starlit conditions. The ministry said the system will enable troops to fully exploit the longer effective range of the SIG 716 rifle and provide a significant upgrade over the currently used Passive Night Sights (PNS).

The procurement has been classified under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, which requires over 51% indigenous content. This step marks a major stride toward Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in defence manufacturing.

The ministry said the project will help boost domestic defence production capabilities and open up opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) involved in component and material supply chains.

The contract was signed on October 15, 2025, with a consortium led by M/s MKU Ltd and M/s Medbit Technologies Pvt Ltd.

In its statement, the ministry said, “The Night Sight will enable soldiers to fully exploit the longer effective range of the SIG 716 Assault Rifle.”