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. Under the agreement: The facility is likely to come up in Pune, expanding India’s footprint in high-end aerospace and precision weapons manufacturing. 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 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 Its modular architecture allows mission tailoring for both close air support and deep-strike roles. 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. Defence analysts view the localisation of HAMMER production as a strategic milestone. Strategic gains The agreement also reflects the broader evolution of India–France ties toward co-development and co-production, moving beyond the traditional import model. 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.
BEL–Safran joint venture: What is planned
What is the HAMMER weapon system?
Combat validation in Indian service
Why the deal matters
The bigger picture
