The Indian Army troops deployed at the forward bases along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to tackle Chinese aggression have been provided with the latest American Sig Sauer 716 assault rifles and Swiss MP-9 pistol guns to guard the border there.
Army officials said that soldiers are now getting the American Sig Sauer 716 assault rifles for operations with a range of 500 meters, which can be proven to be an effective weapon in mountain warfare.
The rifles have been procured in large numbers with India placing orders for around 1.5 lakh of them under emergency provisions soon after the situation along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh deteriorated due to Chinese aggression.
These rifles are ambidextrous and allow troops to use them easily, in case, they are required in operations, the officials said. Meanwhile, India and China have disengaged troops from the Gogra heights area at PP-17 A and moved back to their permanent bases, in a move towards reducing tensions at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
