BangaloreBharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed a joint venture agreement with Safran Electronics & Defense (SED), France, to establish a joint venture company for the production of the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) smart precision-guided air-to-ground weapon in India. The operationalisation of the agreement is subject to regulatory and administrative approvals in both countries.
The agreement was signed on 18 February 2026 by Manoj Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of BEL, and Alexander Ziegler, Executive Vice President and Defence Director of Safran Electronics & Defense, during the sixth India-France Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru. The signing took place in the presence of Rajnath Singh, India’s Minister of Defence, and Catherine Vautrin, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces and Veteran Affairs. BEL and SED also signed a Master Production Agreement setting out the terms for transfer of HAMMER production to India.
The joint venture company, to be equally owned by BEL and SED, will focus on manufacturing, supplying and maintaining the HAMMER system to meet the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. According to the announcement, the collaboration aims to support domestic production of the weapon system.
The transfer of production will take place in phases, with the objective of establishing a stabilised production line in India. The indigenisation level is expected to increase progressively, with key sub-assemblies, electronics and mechanical parts to be manufactured locally over time.
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BEL, Safran Electronics & Defense Sign Joint Venture Agreement to Produce HAMMER Guided Weapon in India
Wednesday, February 18, 2026