New Delhi | In a significant step towards strengthening India’s defence manufacturing capabilities and reducing reliance on imports, India Optel Limited (IOL) has signed a strategic agreement with France’s Safran Electronics & Defense to manufacture high-precision defence systems in India. The systems will be deployed across artillery, air defence and missile platforms of the Indian Armed Forces.
The agreement was formally signed on December 22 by IOL Chairman and Managing Director Tushar Tripathi and Alexandre Ziegler, Head of Safran’s Global Defense Business Unit, in the presence of Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar. The deal is an extension of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2024 and now includes comprehensive transfer of production, not just technology.
Under the partnership, two advanced systems will be manufactured domestically. The first is the SIGMA 30N Digital Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System, a highly accurate navigation solution used in artillery guns, air defence systems, missiles and radars. One of its key advantages is that it does not rely on GPS, ensuring precise navigation even in GPS-denied or jammed environments during combat situations. The SIGMA 30N is already operational with several armed forces worldwide and has proven its reliability. Similar technology is currently being used in Indian systems such as the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher.
The second system is the CM3-MR Direct Firing Sight, a modern targeting solution equipped with a day camera, thermal imaging and a laser range finder. It is designed for direct firing by artillery guns and for use in counter-drone systems. Lightweight yet rugged, the CM3-MR ensures stability and accuracy even under heavy recoil, making it especially relevant in the context of growing drone-based threats.
As part of the deal, IOL will be responsible for indigenous manufacturing, final assembly, testing, quality control and life-cycle support of both systems in India. This will significantly reduce dependence on overseas suppliers while ensuring faster availability and sustained operational readiness for the armed forces.
Already active in the opto-electronics domain, IOL manufactures night-vision devices, sights and other advanced equipment. The collaboration with Safran is expected to further strengthen India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, generate skilled employment and provide Indian industry with exposure to cutting-edge defence technologies.
Strategically, the deal holds major importance as precision, speed and reliability have become critical requirements for modern artillery and air defence systems. With rising security challenges and evolving battlefield technologies, systems like SIGMA 30N and CM3-MR are set to enhance the Indian military’s operational edge while firmly advancing the goals of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.
