Indian government-owned company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed an agreement with Safran Electronics and Defence (SED), a French government-supported defence company, to jointly produce the HAMMER air-to-ground precision weapon system in India. 

The Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) was signed in New Delhi on Monday (Nov 24). The agreement was formally signed by BEL Chairman & MD Manoj Jain and SED Executive Vice President Alexandre Ziegler, in the presence of Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar and Safran CEO Olivier Andriès.

The HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) is a French-made smart weapon used to destroy strong ground targets like bunkers, hardened shelters, and enemy command centres. It has a range of more than 70 km, which means fighter aircraft can launch it from a safe distance without entering enemy air defence range. The weapon is designed to work smoothly even in difficult conditions and is resistant to jamming and electronic interference.

HAMMER can be attached to bombs of different weights, 125 kg, 250 kg, 500 kg, and 1,000 kg. It is currently used on the Rafale fighter jet, and India also plans to integrate it with the indigenous Tejas fighter aircraft. This deal follows the MoU signed earlier on February 11, 2025, during the Aero India defence exhibition in Bengaluru. Both companies have decided to create a new Joint Venture Company (JVC) in India, where both BEL and Safran will hold 50% partnership each.

According to the agreement, the new joint venture will focus on manufacturing, supplying and maintaining the HAMMER weapon system in India, especially for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. The companies plan to increase the level of indigenisation up to 60% by producing key parts and electronics components locally. The transfer of technology and production responsibilities will take place gradually. BEL will lead tasks such as final assembly, testing and quality checks.

India and France have been strengthening their defence ties continuously. Apart from the HAMMER, cooperation includes projects like RBE2 AESA radar for Rafale jets, engine development for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), and other naval aircraft technologies. India already operates 36 Rafale fighter jets, and has ordered 24 Rafale-M jets for its aircraft carriers.