2024-08-31 10:39:06
New Delhi: It was during the Kargil war that lasted from May to July, 1999, when Indian soldiers were giving a befitting reply to Pakistani forces in the extreme cold. At that time, the confidence of the soldiers was shaken due to problems like magazine bursting, jamming, oil leakage during firing in the indigenously made INSAS rifles. Then the government started the process of ordering lethal and reliable rifles made abroad for the soldiers. In this, it was decided to import deadly rifles made abroad along with Made in India. In this series, India recently made a deal to buy 73,000 SIG 716i assault rifles from America. These rifles will be included in the stock of 72,400 such guns already purchased for the army. With this, the Indian Army will have a total of 1,45,400 rifles. Let us understand how important this agreement was and what is the specialty of these rifles?
Soldiers will be equipped with these rifles on the China-Pakistan border
According to Defense and Strategic Analyst Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) JS Sodhi, SIG 716i assault rifles are actually 7.62x51mm caliber guns, which have a range of up to 600 meters. That means they will kill terrorists or intruders from half a kilometer away. There will be no need to go close to them. These rifles will be given to Indian soldiers deployed on the borders with China and Pakistan.
China’s tension will increase! India is buying 73 thousand assault rifles, deal worth 837 crores with America
With these rifles our soldiers will be able to become better shooters
SIG 716i Automatic Assault Rifle is made in America. It can also be used in sniper attacks. This means that with these rifles our soldiers will be able to become excellent shooters. The aim of this rifle is 100 percent accurate, which means there will be no chance of terrorists getting injured or running away.
11 bullets are fired in 1 second
This is a rifle with a gas operated rotating bolt system. It fires 7.62x51mm NATO grade bullets, which are extremely lethal. 20 bullets can be fitted in one magazine. Up to 700 rounds can be fired in a minute from this assault rifle. This means that on an average 11 bullets are fired in 1 second, which breaks the morale of the enemy. With the help of SIG 716i assault rifles, an enemy sitting 600 meters i.e. 1970 feet away can be killed because it has the facility of installing adjustable and rear optics.
These rifles can be adjusted if needed
The length of this rifle is 34.39 inches and its barrel is 15.98 inches long. Its weight is 3,820 grams. This means that it is much lighter than other rifles, which makes it easy to chase the enemy during a war or encounter and the soldier does not get tired either. In most small arms, the cork is fitted on the side of the rifle, due to which the butt of the rifle does not bend easily. On the other hand, SIG 716i assault rifles have 6 such points from where it can be adjusted as per the need. In such a situation, it proves to be very effective in operations against terrorists or military operations.
Many times better than INSAS or AK-47 and extremely accurate
SIG 716i assault rifles are made by the American arms company ‘Sig Sauer’, which is known for making the world’s best rifles. SIG-716 is provided for operations against terrorists and infiltrators including the Line of Control (LOC), Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Indian Army has generally been using AK-47 and INSAS. The problem was that terrorists in Kashmir have already been using AK-47, which has a range of 300 meters. That is, rifles with equal range were used by both sides. Due to this, soldiers had to go close to the terrorists to eliminate them, which led to unnecessary bloodshed. In such a situation, the Indian Army needed SIG 716i assault rifles.
Why was there a need for SIG 716i assault rifles
Defense and strategic analyst Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) JS Sodhi says that even though the range of INSAS is 400 meters, it cannot be completely trusted. Its 5.56mm caliber bullet used to injure the enemy. He dies only when fired from a very close range. The result was that the terrorists kept fighting despite being hit by many bullets. The US Army also faced the same problem against the Taliban. Only after this, the development of accurate and lethal weapon SIG 716i assault rifles started. After this, the US also used these rifles against the Taliban.
Operations even in urban areas with SIG 716i assault rifles
SIG 716i assault rifles are more accurate and lethal than INSAS as its caliber is 7.62 mm as compared to 5.56 mm caliber. With a shorter barrel than INSAS, it is also very effective in room intervention operations and operations in urban areas. Because there is very little chance of causing damage other than hitting the target. It has four more variants – SIG 716 CQB, SIG 716 Carbine, SIG-716 Patrol Rifle, SIG-716 Precision Marksman.
The range of SIG 716i is almost twice that of AK-47
SIG 716i is designed to fire 7.62 x 51mm rounds. Its range is 600 meters which is twice that of AK-47. This means that terrorists can be targeted without going close to them. It has a short stroke piston driven operating system which causes less shock to the operator. This makes the aim very accurate.
You can aim accurately at forests and mountains even at night
This rifle can be used for accurate aiming even at night. This rifle is capable of killing the enemy even if he is hiding in a forest, mountain or river. It also has M1913 military standard rails on which night vision devices, torch or any other device can be fitted as per the requirement of the mission.
INSAS rifles used to jam, SIG 716i can fire continuously
Soldiers faced a lot of problems with INSAS rifles in the Kargil war. The rifles used to jam during continuous intense firing. There is also the problem of overheating. Once the rifle overheats, it cannot be used until it cools down. This is dangerous for soldiers in any situation. Selective firing mode does not work in INSAS rifles. Apart from this, the magazine used to crack in low temperatures. SIG-716 does not have these problems.
The weapons left by America should be given to the terrorists, that is why these rifles are necessary
According to Defense and Strategic Analyst Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) JS Sodhi, after the US forces left Afghanistan in 2021, their weapons reached Pakistani terrorists. These include M-4 carbine assault rifles and shoulder-fired weapons. In such a situation, SIG 716i assault rifles are very important for the army. Terrorists can be fought with these weapons.
Terrorists using American weapons will get a befitting reply
Defense analyst Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) JS Sodhi says that most terrorists infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan. Security agencies suspect that about 3 terrorists were involved in the Kathua attack in July. Kashmir Tigers, associated with the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed, took responsibility for the attack. It is being told that this terrorist organization has used M-4 assault rifles, snipers, grenades and other weapons in the Kathua attack. Earlier, this organization had also carried out attacks in Kathua, Reasi and Doda in Jammu region. JS Sodhi says that SIG 716i assault rifles will give a befitting reply to terrorists and infiltrators, because the weapons are more modern and accurate.
When India itself is making high-tech weapons then… controversy over buying rifles from America
These M-4 rifles were used in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars
Defense expert JS Sodhi says that M-4 assault rifles have been used in many wars including the Syrian civil war, Iraqi civil war, Yemeni civil war, Colombian conflict, Kosovo war, post 9/11 Iraq and Afghanistan war. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence i.e. ISI is helping terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir by providing M-4 carbine rifles.
According to experts, the M-4 carbine rifle was recovered for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir when on 7 November 2017, Talha Rashid Masood, nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, was killed by the army in an encounter in Pulwama district. These rifles were recovered from him. In 2018, security forces recovered weapons for the second time in Pulwama, when another nephew of Azhar, Usman Ibrahim, was killed.
Bullets made in China are very cheap, they were useful for terrorists
The bullets used by terrorists in Poonch for attack were made of steel. Usually bullets are made of brass, but now terrorists are using steel bullets for attacks. It is being told that China makes such bullets. These steel bullets reach Pakistan through China and then from there they are supplied to terrorists through the Pakistani army. Steel bullets are cheaper and more lethal than brass bullets.