by Ashis Sinha

India and France have signed a major defence agreement to manufacture HAMMER precision-guided munitions in India through a BEL–Safran joint venture, boosting Rafale strike capability and indigenisation.

In a significant boost to India–France defence cooperation and the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat push, India and France on Tuesday formalised a key agreement to manufacture the advanced HAMMER precision-guided weapon system in India.

The pact, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagement with French President Emmanuel Macron, provides for a joint venture between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defence to locally produce the HAMMER air-to-ground munition for Indian fighter platforms.

Officials described the move as a major step toward strengthening India’s indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem while enhancing the precision-strike capability of the armed forces.

BEL–Safran joint venture: What is planned

Under the agreement:

• BEL and Safran will establish a private limited joint venture in India.
• The JV will set up a Centre of Excellence focused on HAMMER guidance kits.
• It will handle manufacturing, supply, maintenance and repair.
• The system will support platforms including the Rafale and Rafale-M.
• Indigenisation is expected to progressively rise to around 60%, with key electronics and mechanical sub-assemblies to be produced locally.

The facility is likely to come up in Pune, expanding India’s footprint in high-end aerospace and precision weapons manufacturing.

What is the HAMMER weapon system?

HAMMER — short for Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range — is a French precision air-to-ground weapon, technically known as AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire).

Developed by Safran, HAMMER is not a conventional standalone missile but a modular kit that converts standard unguided bombs into smart precision-guided munitions.

Core components

• A nose-mounted guidance section for navigation and targeting
• A tail-mounted range-extension kit with rocket booster and manoeuvrable winglets

First publicly displayed at the 2007 Paris Air Show and renamed HAMMER in 2011, the weapon is designed for high-accuracy strikes in complex combat environments.

Key capabilities

• Strike range of up to 70 km
• Compatible with 250 kg, 500 kg and 1,000 kg bomb classes
• Resistant to electronic jamming
• Fire-and-forget precision
• Effective against both stationary and moving targets
• Optimised for mountainous terrain and hardened bunkers

Its modular architecture allows mission tailoring for both close air support and deep-strike roles.

Combat validation in Indian service

The HAMMER system is already integrated with India’s Rafale fleet and demonstrated its operational value during Operation Sindoor last year, when Indian forces targeted multiple terror infrastructure sites.

Military officials had highlighted the weapon’s autonomous guidance, high accuracy and resistance to jamming as key factors that enabled effective strikes against fortified targets, including major terror facilities.

Why the deal matters

Defence analysts view the localisation of HAMMER production as a strategic milestone.

Strategic gains

• Boosts precision-strike capability of IAF and Navy
• Reduces dependence on foreign suppliers
• Improves logistics and turnaround time
• Deepens India–France defence industrial partnership
• Advances Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat goals

The agreement also reflects the broader evolution of India–France ties toward co-development and co-production, moving beyond the traditional import model.

The bigger picture

The HAMMER manufacturing pact was among the key outcomes of the latest India–France engagements, which emphasised deeper collaboration in defence technology and industrial partnerships.

With France emerging as one of India’s most trusted strategic partners, the BEL–Safran venture is expected to become a cornerstone of India’s growing precision-guided munitions ecosystem.

The HAMMER going “Made in India” marks a decisive shift toward defence self-reliance while significantly sharpening India’s air-to-ground strike capability.