BEL-Safran JV to Manufacture HAMMER Missile in India

In a significant boost to India’s defence manufacturing capabilities, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and French defence major Safran Electronics & Defence (SED) have signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) to manufacture the combat-proven HAMMER air-to-surface missile system in India. The weapon was prominently used by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during Operation Sindoor.

The HAMMER – short for Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range – is a precision-guided, air-to-ground munition known for its high accuracy and modular design. It is compatible with multiple combat aircraft, including the Rafale and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

According to the Ministry of Defence, the JV will enable manufacturing, supply and lifecycle maintenance of the HAMMER system within India to meet the operational requirements of both the IAF and the Indian Navy. The ministry added that indigenisation will be progressively increased to around 60 per cent, with major electronic and mechanical sub-systems to be produced locally.

Production transfer will take place in phases, with BEL taking charge of final assembly, testing and quality assurance. The partnership aims to combine BEL’s industrial capacity with Safran’s proven experience in precision-guided air-to-ground weapons.

The agreement was signed by BEL CMD Manoj Jain and SED Executive Vice President Alexandre Ziegler in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and Safran CEO Olivier Andries in New Delhi. It formalises the intent announced in an MoU inked during Aero India on February 11.

The joint venture company will be incorporated as a private limited entity with equal shareholding by BEL and SED, marking another step toward expanding India’s indigenous defence production ecosystem.

Team BharatShakti