By A Correspondent

New Delhi: In a major boost to India’s defence industrial base and the government’s ‘Make in India’ push, State-run defence firm Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defense (SED) of France have signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) to manufacture the HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) precision-guided air-to-ground weapon system in India.

The agreement was signed in New Delhi by BEL Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Jain and Safran’s global defence chief Alexandre Ziegler, in the presence of Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar.

Safran chief executive officer (CEO) Olivier Andries also attended the signing, signaling the seriousness of the collaboration.

This JVCA formalises the intent laid out during Aero India 2025, where both companies signed an MoU to explore co-production opportunities.

The upcoming Joint Venture Company (JVC), to be formed as a 50:50 private limited entity, will be responsible for the manufacture, supply, and lifecycle support of HAMMER for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy.

Under the agreement, the weapon system will be progressively indigenised, with BEL taking the lead on final assembly, testing, and quality assurance.

Key sub-assemblies, electronics, and mechanical components will transition to Indian manufacturing lines in a phased manner, marking a critical technological leap for India’s precision-guided munitions ecosystem.

The HAMMER, used extensively by the French Air and Space Force, is known for its combat-proven accuracy, modular configuration, and compatibility with multiple fighter platforms, including Rafale, already in IAF service, and the LCA Tejas, where integration discussions are ongoing.

For India, this JV signifies not just a localisation effort but a foundation for developing deeper strategic autonomy in advanced air-launched weapons, an area long dominated by foreign suppliers.

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