New Delhi: The NW-3000 night vision weapon sights will begin reaching the Indian army by the end of 2026, marking a major step in improving the Army’s night-fighting capability. The first batch of around 4,000 sights will be delivered under a larger ₹659.47 crore contract signed by the Ministry of defence (MoD) with MKU Ltd and Medbit Technologies Pvt Ltd.
The project is part of the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, with more than 51% indigenous content under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
Details of Indian Army NW-3000 Night Vision Weapon Sights Procurement
The Kanpur-based defence company MKU will supply the first lot of approximately 4,000 Netro NW-3000 Night Vision Weapon Sights by the end of 2026. This is only the first phase of a much larger order covering 29,762 weapon sights, signed in October 2025 and valued at ₹659.47 crore. The sights are designed for the Army’s 7.62×51 mm SIG 716 assault rifles, helping soldiers operate effectively during night missions.
NW-3000 Night Vision Weapon Sights: Rigorous Trials Before Approval
Before winning the contract, the NW-3000 underwent extensive field testing by the Ministry of Defence. The system was tested in different weather and terrain conditions, including freezing high-altitude areas and extremely hot environments. These trials ensured the equipment could perform reliably in India’s varied operational conditions. The successful trials allowed the project to be approved under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) procurement category, which encourages locally designed and manufactured defence equipment.
Indigenous Manufacturing Supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat
The contract has more than 51% indigenous content, making it an important achievement for India’s defence manufacturing sector. The project is led by MKU Ltd in partnership with Medbit Technologies Pvt Ltd. It supports local industries and strengthens India’s goal of reducing dependence on imported military equipment.
What are the Features Of The NW-3000 Night Vision Weapon Sights
The Netro NW-3000 is a Generation-3 Image Intensifier Night Vision Weapon Sight developed by MKU’s Netro Optronics division. Some of its important features include:
- Compatible with the Indian Army’s SIG 716 assault rifle.
- Mounts directly using standard MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails.
- Built-in infrared (IR) illuminator for operations in complete darkness.
- Wider field of view than older night sights.
- Designed for better target detection and improved situational awareness.
- Long service life with a 10-year or 10,000-hour operational support package.
Operational Performance
According to MKU and the Ministry of Defence, the sight allows soldiers to identify threats even under very low-light or starlit conditions.
Estimated Performance
| Target Type | Detection | Recognition | Identification |
| Personnel | 500 metres | 300 metres | 100 metres |
| Vehicles | 600 metres | 400 metres | 150 metres |
The Ministry of Defence has stated that the sights enable soldiers to engage targets at effective ranges of up to 500 metres during night operations.
Why NW-3000 Night Vision Weapon Sights Procurement Matters
Night operations have become increasingly important along India’s northern and western borders. The induction of the NW-3000 will help infantry soldiers detect, identify and engage targets more effectively after dark. It also improves battlefield awareness while supporting the Army’s ongoing infantry modernisation programme.
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