Advancing indigenous defence manufacturing, BEL and Safran seal a joint venture to produce HAMMER precision weapons in India.
Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and Safran Electronics and Defense (SED), France, 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 marks a major milestone for the Make in India programme and significantly advances the country’s push for indigenous defence manufacturing.
The JVCA was signed by BEL Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Jain and Alexandre Ziegler, Head of Global Defense Business Unit at SED, in the presence of Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production). Safran CEO Olivier Andries also attended the event. The agreement builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both organisations during Aero India in February 2025.
As per the plan, BEL and Safran will establish a 50:50 joint venture company in India to localise the production, supply and lifecycle support of the HAMMER weapon system for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. Localisation will increase in phases, with key subassemblies, electronics and mechanical components gradually shifting to domestic manufacturing. BEL will lead the final assembly, testing and quality assurance as part of the production transfer roadmap.
BEL said the collaboration reinforces its commitment to strengthening India’s defence industrial base. Safran’s expertise in smart, precision-guided munitions will be central to accelerating India’s capability-building in next-generation air-launched weapons.
HAMMER, a combat-proven weapon known for its modularity and high accuracy, is compatible with multiple platforms including Rafale and LCA Tejas. The new venture is expected to enhance India’s strategic autonomy in advanced munitions manufacturing.
