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India and France on Monday took another step in defence industrial cooperation, with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defence signing an MoU to manufacture Hammer precision-guided missiles in India.
The agreement was signed in Bengaluru in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin, who co-chaired the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue.
The MoU was inked between the Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Electronics Limited and the Executive Vice President of Safran Electronics & Defence. The move is expected to pave the way for local production of the Hammer air-to-ground weapon system, currently integrated on the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fleet.
The Dialogue reviewed a wide range of bilateral defence and security issues. Both sides identified co-development and co-production of niche and high-technology systems as priority areas. The two Ministers stressed the need to deepen industry-to-industry partnerships and build more resilient supply chains.
A 10-year renewal of the bilateral defence cooperation agreement was also signed during the meeting. In addition, India and France announced the reciprocal deployment of officers between the Indian Army and the French Land Forces establishments to strengthen military-to-military engagement.
Rajnath Singh said India values France’s commitment to strategic autonomy and a strong European defence posture. He noted that the recent India–EU Security and Defence Partnership provides a wider framework to expand cooperation, both bilaterally and with Europe.
The French side welcomed the decision to convert Exercise Shakti, the joint Army drill, from a biennial to an annual exercise, a sign of increasing operational engagement.
On regional security, Singh reiterated that India has acted as a “first responder” and “net security provider” in the Indian Ocean Region, assisting partner countries in defence and maritime domains. He also flagged concerns over cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, calling it a serious threat to regional peace.
The Annual Defence Dialogue is a structured ministerial-level mechanism to guide defence ties. The previous edition was held in France in October 2023.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of last week’s clearance by the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Rajnath Singh, for the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft at an estimated cost of Rs 3.25 lakh crore to address the Indian Air Force’s declining squadron strength.
The Ministers also attended the virtual inauguration of the H125 helicopter final assembly line in Karnataka by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, underscoring the growing defence-industrial partnership between the two countries.
India and France share long-standing defence ties, reflected in acquisitions such as the Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighters, as well as expanding joint exercises and industrial collaboration.
Team BharatShakti
