A major push to India’s defence manufacturing capabilities came on Monday as Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and France’s Safran Electronics & Defence (SED) formalised a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) to produce the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) precision-guided weapon system in the country.
According to the defence ministry, the HAMMER — a combat-proven, high-accuracy, precision-guided air-to-ground munition — has already demonstrated its operational value, having played a crucial role in the recently concluded ‘Operation Sindoor.’ Known for its modular design and adaptability, the system can be integrated with multiple platforms such as the Rafale and the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
The JVCA marks a major step towards the government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ push. The agreement was signed by BEL Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Jain and SED Executive Vice-President Alexandre Ziegler in the presence of senior officials, including Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and SED CEO Olivier Andries.
This agreement builds on the memorandum of understanding signed at Aero India on February 11, strengthening the two sides’ intent to establish a Joint Venture Company (JVC) in India with a 50:50 shareholding structure.
The upcoming JVC will handle the local manufacturing, supply, and lifecycle support of the HAMMER weapon system to meet the evolving requirements of the Indian Air Force and Navy. The indigenisation level is expected to rise progressively to around 60%, with critical electronics, mechanical parts, and sub-assemblies being produced domestically. Production transfer will take place in phases, with BEL spearheading final assembly, testing, and quality assurance.
Indian Air Force bypassed and jammed Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied air defense systems, completing the mission in just 23 minutes using Rafale jets, SCALP missiles, and HAMMER bombs, demonstrating India’s technological edge during Operation Sindoor.
Positioned as a tactical game-changer, the HAMMER offers:
Standoff firing ranges for improved aircraft survivability.
Multiple guidance options—INS/GPS, IR, and Laser—to suit various target profiles.
Warhead modularity with 125 kg, 250 kg, 500 kg and 1,000 kg class options.
Range extension kits (standard and augmented) enabling deep strike capability.
Multi-target engagement and off-boresight launch flexibility.
Safran emphasizes that HAMMER is fully compatible with major fighter platforms including the Dassault Rafale, Mirage 2000, and can also be integrated onto light attack aircraft, transport platforms, and custom mission requirements.
The system supports a range of mission profiles such as DEAD/SEAD, close air support, time-sensitive target engagement, and critical infrastructure strikes. Safran also highlights the absence of preventive maintenance requirements, paired with digital documentation and computer-based training modules aimed at reducing life-cycle costs.
The company continues to evolve the weapon family with new seeker modes, enhanced range kits, incremental modularity, and features designed for collaborative and high-intensity combat environments.
*With Agency Inputs
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