Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics and Defence (SED), France, have signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement to produce the HAMMER Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground weapon system in India. The agreement was formalised in New Delhi on Monday, according to a Defence Ministry statement.
The document was signed by BEL Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Jain and SED Executive Vice President Alexandre Ziegler, in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and Safran CEO Olivier Andries.
The accord follows a memorandum of understanding signed during Aero India in February 2025. Under the plan, a joint venture company with 50:50 shareholding will be incorporated in India.
The joint venture will take up localisation of manufacturing, supply and maintenance of the HAMMER weapon system for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. Indigenisation is expected to gradually rise to nearly 60 per cent, including sub-assemblies, electronics and mechanical parts.
The transfer of production will take place in phases. BEL will lead the final assembly, testing and quality assurance.
The HAMMER—Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range—is a combat-tested precision-guided weapon known for high accuracy and modular design. It is compatible with multiple combat aircraft, including the Rafale and the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
The Defence Ministry said the partnership reflects BEL’s focus on developing India’s defence industrial ecosystem while building on Safran’s experience in smart air-to-ground weapon systems.