The state-owned India Optel Limited (IOL) on Monday signed a collaboration agreement with France’s Safran Electronics and Defense for the transfer of production of two high-precision, combat-proven systems—the SIGMA 30N Digital Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System, used in artillery guns, air defence systems, missiles and radars, and the CM3-MR Direct Firing Sight, designed for artillery guns and anti-drone systems.
A Defence Ministry statement said the agreement was signed by Tushar Tripathi, CMD, IOL and Alexandre Ziegler, head of Defence Global Business Unit for Safran Electronics & Defense, in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar. It would pave the way for the local manufacturing of the two systems. IOL is a Defence PSU. The agreement was built on an internal agreement signed between the two sides in January 2024.
The development comes just a month after BEL signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement with Safran for joint production of the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground weapons in India.
Autonomous engagement
According to a Safran statement, SIGMA 30 is designed to optimise operational deployment of artillery units and their intelligence systems. It gives combat platforms an autonomous engagement capability, even when there are no GPS signals.
According to Safran, SIGMA 30 helps determine the precise location of enemy batteries as soon as it detects any firing. “Designed to optimise the operational deployment of artillery units and their intelligence systems, Sigma 30 gives combat platforms an autonomous engagement capability, even when there are no GPS signals,” it had said in a statement. The CM3-MR Direct Firing Sight is for improving artillery guns and anti-drone systems.
According to the Defence Ministry statement, “Under the partnership, IOL will be responsible for manufacturing, final assembly, testing, quality control and full life-cycle support, ensuring the systems meet the operational needs of the Indian Army.”
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