HAMMER Air-To-Surface Missile To Be Made In India As BEL, France’s Safran Join Hands For 50:50 JV
HAMMER is a combat-proven, precision-guided weapon system known for its high accuracy and modular design. Image courtesy: Safran
India’s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and France’s Safran Electronics and Defence (SED) have signed a major agreement to jointly manufacture HAMMER precision-guided air-to-ground weapons in India. A 50:50 joint venture company (JVC) will be created to produce, supply and maintain these weapons for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy’s Rafale Marine fighters.
The agreement finalises the understanding first announced at Aero India 2025 in February this year. Worth noting here is that the latest deal takes India-France relationship to a next level as the two nations already share strong bilateral ties. Interestingly, India’s first strategic partnership was with France, signed in January 1998.
As part of the agreement, the joint venture shall be formed as a private limited company with 50:50 shareholding. It will localise the manufacturing, supply and maintenance of HAMMER to meet the operational needs of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
Why is the HAMMER weapon important for India?
Combat-proven, precision-guided weapon system known for its high accuracy and modular design, makes HAMMER adaptable for multiple platforms, including the Rafale and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. The HAMMER is a smart, highly agile, extended-range weapon designed for accurate strikes on hardened targets such as bunkers.
It fills a crucial gap for the Rafale fleet, which lacked a short-range precision strike option of around 70 km. The weapon proved essential during earlier tensions with China when the IAF urgently bought HAMMER kits to quickly operationalise the newly inducted Rafale jets.
How will HAMMER production boost local manufacturing?
Local production will progressively reach up to 60% indigenisation, including electronics, sub-assemblies and mechanical parts. This will bring several advantages like faster availability of weapons, especially during emergencies; lower long-term costs due to domestic manufacturing; better maintenance support and easier upgrades from within India.
Additionally, HAMMER production in India would also lead to reduced dependency on foreign suppliers for critical ammunition. BEL will take the lead in final assembly, testing, and quality assurance in India.
How is HAMMER well suited for India’s operational needs?
The HAMMER’s agility makes it ideal for precision strikes in mountainous terrain like Ladakh. It allows the Rafale to hit fortified Chinese positions without crossing the Line of Actual Control. It is compatible with different standard bomb bodies (125, 250, 500 and 1000 kg).
Autonomous and insensitive to jamming, this weapon system can be launched from low altitude, over rough terrain.
Meanwhile, the BEL-Safran joint venture strengthens India’s defence manufacturing push, which has already seen a big growth in the last decade, and supports long-term self-reliance. It ensures that frontline aircraft such as the Rafale have a steady supply of precision weapons tailored to Indian requirements.
