Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed a joint venture agreement with Safran Electronics & Defense (SED), France, to establish a joint venture company for the production of the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) smart precision-guided air-to-ground weapon in India. The operationalisation of the agreement is subject to regulatory and administrative approvals in both countries.
The agreement was signed on 18 February 2026 by Manoj Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of BEL, and Alexander Ziegler, Executive Vice President and Defence Director of Safran Electronics & Defense, during the sixth India-France Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru. The signing took place in the presence of Rajnath Singh, India’s Minister of Defence, and Catherine Vautrin, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces and Veteran Affairs. BEL and SED also signed a Master Production Agreement setting out the terms for transfer of HAMMER production to India.
The joint venture company, to be equally owned by BEL and SED, will focus on manufacturing, supplying and maintaining the HAMMER system to meet the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. According to the announcement, the collaboration aims to support domestic production of the weapon system.
The transfer of production will take place in phases, with the objective of establishing a stabilised production line in India. The indigenisation level is expected to increase progressively, with key sub-assemblies, electronics and mechanical parts to be manufactured locally over time.
“With this new JV, Safran – Defense and Bharat Electronics Limited will soon manufacture in India the AASM/Hammer Air to Ground smart weapon, already integrated on the hashtag#Rafale and soon to be fitted on the Indian fighter jet LCA. With this new development, Safran is more committed than ever to make in India” said Alexander Ziegler, Executive Vice President and Defence Director, Safran Electronics & Defense.
The companies stated that the agreement is intended to strengthen India’s defence industrial base and leverage SED’s experience in the manufacture of smart precision-guided air-to-ground weapons. HAMMER is described as a precision-guided weapon system with a modular design that enables integration across multiple platforms, including the Rafale and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
Bharat Electronics Limited is an Indian state-owned aerospace and defence electronics company engaged in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic products for the armed forces. Safran Electronics & Defense, a subsidiary of Safran Group, specialises in defence and aerospace systems, including optronics, avionics, and precision-guided weapon technologies.
