In October 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract worth Rs 659.47 crore with a consortium of MKU Limited (Lead Member) and Medbit Technologies Private Limited for the procurement of Advanced Night Sight (Image Intensifier) systems for the Indian Army’s (IA) 7.62 x 51mm SIG 716 Assault Rifles, along with associated accessories.
Exam Hints:
Contract 1:
- What? Contract signed for Procurement of Advanced Night Sight for SIG716 Assault Rifle
- Entities: MoD and MKU Ltd (Lead Member) & Medbit Technologies Pvt Ltd
- Contract Value: Rs 659.47 crore
- Effective Range: Up to 500 metres under starlight conditions
- Procurement Category: Buy (Indian-IDDM) with over 51% Indigenous Content.
- Purpose: Enhance night operational capability of Indian Army
Contract 2:
- What? Contract signed for Procurement of LMM System
- Entities: Indian Army’s Corps of Army Air Defence and Thales UK
- Contract Value: Euro 350 million (approx. USD 468 million)
- Missile Type: Laser Beam Riding, Portable Missile System
- Range: Greater than 6 km
- Procurement Category: Foreign Military Contract
- Purpose: Enhance India’s air defence capability against UAVs and aircraft
About the Procurement of Advanced Night Sight systems:
Procurement Objective: Equip Indian soldiers with Advanced Night Sight (Image Intensifier) systems for accurate target engagement up to 500 metres (m), even under starlit conditions.
Performance Enhancement: The Advanced Night Sight provides a significant improvement over existing Passive Night Sights (PNS) and allows soldiers to fully exploit the extended effective range of the SIG 716 Assault Rifle.
System Components: Each unit includes lens covers, battery packs, eye guards, chargers, cleaning kits, and maintenance tools.
Durability and Lifecycle: Designed for a service life of 10,000 operational hours or 10 years, whichever is earlier.
Support and Training: Vendor consortium provides 10 years of maintenance and training for users and maintenance personnel.
Indigenous Manufacturing: The procurement is classified as Buy (Indian–IDDM) with over 51% indigenous content, supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative for self-reliance in defence production.
MSME Participation: Involves Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in component manufacturing and supply chains.
Indian Army Signed Contract with Thales UK for LMM System
In October 2025, the Indian Army’s (IA)’s Corps of Army Air Defence (AAD) signed a contract worth Euro 350 million (USD 468 million) with Thales UK for the procurement of the Light Weight Modular Missile (LMM) System, a next-generation portable air defence weapon designed to counter drones, aircraft, and other aerial threats.
- The deal was finalized during British Prime Minister(PM) Keir Starmer’s visit to India, strengthening UK-India defence cooperation and supporting the broader Indo-Pacific strategic partnership.
About the Light Weight Modular Missile (LMM):
System Overview: The LMM is a man-portable, precision-guided missile designed to neutralise aerial threats including aircraft, helicopters, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs), and Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAVs).
Guidance: Operates on the Laser Beam Riding principle, providing high accuracy and resistance to evasive maneuvers by aerial targets.
Operational Capability: The LMM system is effective against low infrared (IR) signature targets and can be deployed in high-altitude, all-weather conditions.
Technical Specifications:
- Operational Range: Over 6 kilometres (km)
- Weight: Approximately 13 kilograms (kg)
- Speed: Over Mach 1.5
- Warhead: Triple-effect with proximity fuse for increased kill probability
- Deployment Modes: Man-portable, vehicle-mounted, or tripod-mounted
About Ministry of Defence(MoD):
Union Minister – Rajnath Singh (Constituency – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
Minister of State(MoS) – Sanjay Seth (Constituency – Ranchi, Jharkhand)
