Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defense of France signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create a joint venture for manufacturing, customising, sales and maintenance of HAMMER, a precision guided air-to-ground weapon, in India.
BEL & Safran Electronics & Defense, France, announced @ Aero India signing of a partnership to create a joint venture for manufacture, customisation, sale & maintenance of HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon in India. pic.twitter.com/UlVsChH7yf
— Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) (@BEL_CorpCom) February 11, 2025
HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) is a combat-proven weapon system known for its high accuracy and modular design, making it adaptable for multiple platforms including the Rafale and LCA Tejas.
"The proposed joint venture between BEL and Safran Electronics & Defense will be a major step toward strengthening India's capabilities in defense manufacturing and achieving self-reliance in advanced weapon systems. It will localise HAMMER production, enable development of future variants and support the Government of India's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by reducing import dependence," BEL CMD Manoj Jain said at the ongoing Aero India 2025 show in Bengaluru.
The French-developed, all-weather, smart air-to-surface stand-off weapon can be valuable in both close air support and deep strike missions. According to Safran, the weapon is is insensitive to jamming and is compatible with different standard bomb bodies (125, 250, 500 and 1000 kg). It can be launched from low altitude, over rough terrain.
“Interoperable and modular, AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire) HAMMER covers all the tactical requirements of air forces thanks to different guidance kits: INS/GPS, INS/GPS/IR and INS/GPS/laser," the description of the weapon on Safran's website reads. There are three main variants of HAMMER, each with different guidance systems.
According to the company, the fire-and-forget HAMMER, which can even engage moving targets, has 99 per cent successful strikes in combat.
As part of this partnership, BEL and Safran Electronics & Defense also plan to establish a Center of Excellence aimed at enhancing India's Defence capabilities. Safran will bring its expertise by implementing a knowledge transfer programme, while the transfer of production will happen in a phased manner.
The collaboration is in sync with the Centre's vision of self-reliance in defence and setting up of state of-the-art production facility in India, making the country a key hub for advanced smart munitions.
