BangaloreBharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and France’s Safran Electronics & Defence (SED) have signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) to manufacture the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) precision-guided air-to-ground weapon system in India. The agreement was formalised in New Delhi on November 24, 2025, in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and Safran.
The partnership marks a significant step in expanding domestic defence manufacturing under the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India initiatives. The JV will be incorporated as a private limited company with an equal 50:50 shareholding between BEL and SED.
Under the arrangement, the joint venture will undertake localisation, supply and lifecycle support of the HAMMER weapon system for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. Production will be transferred in phases, with indigenisation levels planned to increase to around 60 percent over time. Key components such as electronics, mechanical parts and sub-assemblies will progressively be manufactured in India. BEL will lead the final assembly, testing and quality assurance activities.
The HAMMER system, already combat-proven, is known for its high accuracy and modular configuration, enabling integration on multiple combat aircraft platforms, including the Rafale and the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. The collaboration aims to combine BEL’s manufacturing capabilities with Safran’s experience in smart precision-guided munitions to support India’s growing defence requirements.
The agreement builds on a memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies at Aero India on February 11, 2025, which first outlined their intention to form a joint venture in the country.On Date: