Army seeks thermal sights for machine guns, will help curb infiltration attempts on LoC

The Indian Army has kicked off the procurement process for 1,547 thermal imaging night sights meant for its 7.62mm medium machine guns, with the equipment required to help troops spot and engage human targets, both day and night, at an effective range of 1,800 metres or more. The Request for Information (RFI), issued by the ministry of defence, calls for thermal sights along with accessories and support equipment, part of a push to keep frontline troops operationally effective around the clock, regardless of light conditions or terrain difficulty.The requirement carries particular weight for medium machine guns, which are tasked with providing sustained fire support to infantry units. Unlike conventional night-vision equipment that relies on amplifying available light, a thermal weapon sight works by detecting heat differences, letting a gunner spot a person, vehicle or other heat source even when image-intensification systems start losing effectiveness.