BEL, Safran Electronics & Defence Sign JV Agreement to Manufacture HAMMER Precision-Guided Weapon in India
The agreement was signed in New Delhi on Monday by BEL Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Jain and Safran Electronics & Defence Executive Vice President Alexandre Ziegler, in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and Safran Group.
New Delhi, November 25: In a significant boost to Make-in-India and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Bharat Electronics Limited and Safran Electronics & Defence, France, have signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement to manufacture the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) smart precision-guided air-to-ground weapon system in India.
The agreement was signed in New Delhi on Monday by BEL Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Jain and Safran Electronics & Defence Executive Vice President Alexandre Ziegler, in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and Safran Group.
The JVCA formalises the intent outlined in the MoU signed at Aero India 2025 and paves the way for the incorporation of a joint venture company in India with equal shareholding. The new entity will undertake localisation of manufacturing, supply and lifecycle support of HAMMER for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. The indigenisation level is expected to rise progressively to about 60 percent, with key sub-assemblies, electronic components and mechanical parts manufactured domestically. Production transfer will take place in phases, with BEL leading final assembly, testing and quality assurance.
HAMMER is a combat-proven, modular, precision-guided weapon system compatible with platforms such as the Rafale and the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. The JVCA reflects BEL’s ongoing commitment to strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and leverages Safran’s deep expertise in smart air-to-ground weapon systems.
