India and France have agreed to form a joint venture to manufacture the HAMMER precision-guided weapon system in India, expanding on a cooperation agreement signed in November 2025.
The arrangement establishes a 50:50 equity partnership between Safran, the developer of the air-to-ground stand-off munition, and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which will co-produce and support key components domestically.
The venture will set up a Center of Excellence in India dedicated to manufacturing, supplying, maintaining, and repairing HAMMER guidance kits for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, aligning with New Delhi’s push for greater defense self-reliance.
According to local reports, the facility is also expected to produce HAMMER munitions for integration with India’s planned acquisition of 114 Dassault Rafale fighter jets.
The announcement coincides with French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India, where he is meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the broader India–France Strategic Partnership and related defense matters.
About the HAMMER
The HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range), known in France as AASM, is an air-launched precision strike weapon capable of engaging targets at ranges of up to 70 kilometers. It is reportedly effective even in challenging terrains such as mountainous regions.
Designed as a modular system, it can be fitted onto standard bomb bodies weighing between 125 and 1,000 kilograms. The weapon combines inertial navigation with GPS guidance and can optionally incorporate laser guidance, enabling fire-and-forget engagement of both stationary and moving targets in all weather conditions, day or night.
The HAMMER is already integrated with India’s Rafale fleet, and domestic media reports suggest it was employed during Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
