India Optel, Safran Sign Deal For Defence Systems Manufacturing

24 Dec 2025 CW Team

India Optel Limited, a Mini Navratna defence public sector undertaking, has signed a collaboration agreement with Safran Electronics & Defense for the transfer of production of two high-precision, combat-proven systems, marking a significant step under the Make in India programme. The agreement enables local manufacturing of the SIGMA 30N Digital Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System and the CM3-MR Direct Firing Sight, both widely used in artillery guns, air defence systems, missiles, radars and anti-drone platforms.

The agreement was signed on 22 December 2025 in New Delhi by India Optel Limited Chairman and Managing Director Tushar Tripathi and Alexandre Ziegler, Head of the Defence Global Business Unit at Safran Electronics & Defense, in the presence of Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar. The partnership builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in January 2024 and reinforces the commitment of both companies to manufacture and support advanced defence systems within India.

Under the collaboration, India Optel Limited will undertake manufacturing, final assembly, testing, quality control and full life-cycle support for the systems, ensuring they meet the operational requirements of the Indian Army. The partnership combines India Optel’s industrial capabilities with Safran’s expertise in inertial navigation and fire-control technologies, strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem while enhancing the operational readiness and performance of land-based defence platforms.

Infrastructure Transport

01 Jun 2026

MMRDA advances 250 m on Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed 250 m of underground tunnelling for the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Urban Road Tunnel using India’s largest slurry shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) deployed for an urban road project.The project involves twin tunnels extending over 7 km beneath critical transport corridors, including Central Railway, Western Railway and Metro Line 3. The work requires high-precision engineering to navigate densely developed urban infrastructure.Once completed, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marin..

Hindustan Zinc Pays Rs 188.46 Billion in FY26

Hindustan Zinc contributed Rs 188.46 billion to the public exchequer in FY 2025-26, according to its 9th Tax Transparency Report. The contribution, equivalent to 46 per cent of the company’s revenue, included direct and indirect taxes, government royalties, dividends to the Government of India, withholding taxes and other statutory levies.The company’s five-year cumulative contribution to the exchequer stood at Rs 915.72 billion. In FY26, Hindustan Zinc reported revenue of Rs 408.44 billion, EBITDA of Rs 221.62 billion and profit after tax of Rs 138.32 billion. It also achieved its highest..

World of Concrete India 2026 Opens in Mumbai

Informa Markets in India will host the 12th edition of World of Concrete India 2026 from 3–5 June 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The specialised B2B exhibition will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, developers, architects, consultants, infrastructure companies, project leaders and government stakeholders.The event is expected to feature over 350 brands and more than 18,000 trade professionals. It will cover concrete and cement, dry mortar, precast technologies, formwork, construction chemicals, industrial and commercial flooring, scaffolding, safety solutio..