BEL and Safran Sign Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement to Manufacture HAMMER Precision-Guided Weapon in India
Joint Venture to Boost Make-in-India, Produce HAMMER Air-to-Ground Weapon with 60% Indigenous Content
In a major step towards strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem under the Make-in-India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defence (SED), France have signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) for the production of the HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon in India.
The JVCA was formally signed on November 24, 2025, in New Delhi by BEL Chairman & 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.
Paves the Way for a New Joint Venture Company
The agreement gives effect to the intent expressed in the MoU signed during Aero India on February 11, 2025, where both organisations had agreed to explore forming a Joint Venture Company in India.
As per the JVCA:
- A 50:50 Joint Venture will be established as a private limited company.
- The JV will focus on localized manufacturing, supply, and lifecycle support of the HAMMER weapons system.
- Indigenisation levels will gradually increase to 60%, with key sub-assemblies, electronics, and mechanical components being produced in India.
- Transfer of production will follow a phased approach with BEL leading final assembly, testing, and quality assurance.
- This joint venture will address the growing operational needs of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy, while strengthening India’s defence industrial base.
HAMMER: Combat-Proven, Accurate and Modular
The HAMMER is a battle-tested, precision-guided air-to-ground munition with exceptional accuracy.
Its modular design allows it to be integrated with multiple fighter platforms such as:
- Rafale
- Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas
The weapon’s modularity, extended range, and precision-strike capability make it a highly versatile solution for modern aerial warfare.
By manufacturing HAMMER in India, the country will not only gain greater strategic autonomy but also enhance self-reliance in high-value defence technologies.
Strengthening India’s Defence Ecosystem
This collaboration highlights BEL’s commitment to expanding India’s domestic defence capabilities by leveraging Safran’s global expertise in smart precision-guided munitions.
The JV is expected to:
- Create new job opportunities
- Boost local supply chains
- Facilitate high-end technology transfer
- Support long-term maintenance and lifecycle management within India
With this milestone agreement, India moves closer to producing world-class precision-guided weapons domestically and reducing its dependence on imports.
