In a significant boost to India’s Make in India defence manufacturing programme envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India Optel Limited (IOL), a Mini Navratna Defence PSU, has entered into a collaboration with Safran Electronics & Defense to enable domestic production of two advanced, battle-proven defence systems. The agreement covers the transfer of production for the SIGMA 30N Digital Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System and the CM3-MR Direct Firing Sight. The SIGMA 30N system is deployed across artillery guns, air defence platforms, missiles, and radar systems, while the CM3-MR sight is used in artillery and counter-drone applications.
The collaboration agreement was signed on December 22, 2025, in New Delhi by Tushar Tripathi, Chairman and Managing Director of India Optel Limited, and Alexandre Ziegler, Head of the Defence Global Business Unit at Safran Electronics & Defense. The signing took place in the presence of Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production).
This agreement builds upon a Memorandum of Understanding executed in January 2024 and formalises the commitment of both organisations to manufacture and sustain these sophisticated systems within India. Under the partnership framework, India Optel will undertake manufacturing, final assembly, testing, quality assurance, and full life-cycle support, ensuring the systems meet the operational requirements of the Indian Army.
By combining IOL’s manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure with Safran’s global expertise in inertial navigation and fire-control technologies, the collaboration strengthens India’s defence industrial base while enhancing the operational readiness and effectiveness of the country’s land forces. Safran is a global high-technology group with operations spanning the aviation, defense, and space sectors, including aircraft propulsion systems, onboard equipment, and cabin interiors.
Guided by its mission to help build a safer and more sustainable world, the group focuses on making air travel cleaner, more comfortable, and more accessible. With a worldwide footprint, Safran employs around 100,000 people and reported revenues of €27.3 billion in 2024. The company holds leading positions, independently or through partnerships, in many of its core markets and is listed on Euronext Paris, where it is a constituent of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.
Safran Electronics & Defense specializes in advanced onboard intelligence and mission-critical systems that enable users to better perceive their environment, reduce cognitive workload, and maintain secure and accurate trajectories, even in complex or high-risk situations. Its solutions are designed for use across all domains—land, sea, air, and space—and serve both civil and defense customers. Drawing on the expertise of approximately 19,000 employees, the company delivers high-performance technologies that support operational reliability and safety in the most demanding conditions.
