Date: 2025-11-24Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: BEL and Safran Electronics & Defence ink Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement for production of HAMMER Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon in India
On November 24, 2025, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defence (SED) of France signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) in New Delhi for the production of Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon in India.
The agreement, which was posted by PIB Delhi at 7:05 PM on November 24, 2025, formalizes the intent expressed in the MoU signed between BEL and SED on February 11, 2025, during Aero India. The JVC will be a private limited company with 50:50 shareholding and will localize the manufacturing, supply, and maintenance of HAMMER. This localisation is to meet the operational needs of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
The indigenization level will progressively increase up to 60 percent with key sub-assemblies, electronics, and mechanical parts being manufactured locally. Transfer of production will happen in a phased manner with BEL leading final assembly, testing, and quality assurance. The JVCA was inked by CMD, BEL Shri Manoj Jain and Executive Vice President, SED Mr Alexandre Ziegler in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar & CEO Safran Mr Olivier Andries.
The HAMMER is a combat-proven, precision-guided weapon system known for its high accuracy and modular design, making it adaptable for multiple platforms, including the Rafale and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
Key Entities Referenced
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: A government of India initiative to promote self-reliance and indigenous manufacturing.
HAMMER Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon: A precision-guided weapon system to be produced in India under a joint venture.
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL): An Indian electronics and defense company involved in the joint venture for weapon production.
Safran Electronics and Defence (SED): A French defense company involved in the joint venture for weapon production.
Ministry of Defence: The Indian government ministry overseeing the production of the HAMMER weapon system.
Ministry of Defence
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: BEL and Safran
Electronics & Defence ink Joint Venture
Cooperation Agreement for production of
HAMMER Smart Precision Guided Air-to-
Ground Weapon in India
Posted On: 24 NOV 2025 7:05PM by PIB Delhi
In a major impetus to Make-in-India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat as envisioned by Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics and Defence (SED), France
have signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) for the production of Highly Agile
Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon in
India. The JVCA was inked by CMD, BEL Shri Manoj Jain and Executive Vice President, SED Mr
Alexandre Ziegler in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar & CEO
Safran Mr Olivier Andries in New Delhi on November 24, 2025.
The agreement formalises the intent expressed in the MoU signed between BEL and SED on February
11, 2025 during Aero India, reaffirming the willingness of both sides to incorporate a potential Joint
Venture Company (JVC) in India. The JVC shall be formed as a private limited company with 50:50shareholding. It will localise the manufacturing, supply and maintenance of HAMMER to meet the
operational needs of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. The indigenisation level will
progressively increase upto 60 percent with key sub-assemblies, electronics and mechanical parts
being manufactured locally. The transfer of production will happen in a phased manner with BEL
leading final assembly, testing and quality assurance.
HAMMER is a combat-proven, precision-guided weapon system known for its high accuracy and
modular design, making it adaptable for multiple platforms, including the Rafale and Light Combat
Aircraft Tejas. This JVCA underscores BEL’s commitment to strengthening India’s defence industrial
base and aims at leveraging SED’s extensive experience in manufacturing of smart precision guided
air-to-ground weapon.
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