Categories: Innovation

BEL, French firm sign MoU for production of ‘HAMMER’ weaponry

Navaratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and Safran Electronics and Defense (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, marking a momentous moment for the ‘Make in India’ initiative. 

The JVCA was signed by Manoj Jain, CMD, BEL, and Alexandre Ziegler, Head of Global Defense Business Unit, Safran Electronics and Defense.

This JVCA formalises the intent expressed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between BEL and SED on February 11, 2025, during Aero India.

The agreement confirms the two parties’ willingness to incorporate a potential Joint Venture Company (JVC) in India.

The JVC shall be formed as a private limited company with 50:50 shareholding, which will localise the manufacturing, supply and maintenance of HAMMER to meet the operational needs of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

The indigenisation level will progressively increase with key subassemblies, 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.

This agreement 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 weaponry.

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 LCA Tejas.

TBM Newsdesk

Recent Posts

Government fast-tracks efforts to set up pilgrim accommodation at Srisailam, Tirupati and Tirumala

In a major step towards improving amenities for Karnataka pilgrims visiting Andhra Pradesh’s key temple…

11 hours ago

A look at what’s happening on the global inflation and interest rate front

As the world recovers from the pandemic and geopolitical upheavals, 2025 is a crucial year…

2 days ago

Come February 8, let your ‘spokes do the speaking’…

The city is gearing up to host the inaugural edition of the HCL Cyclothon, one…

2 days ago

Locos with a powerful motive: Here’s what the Alstom-Indian Railways tie-up has delivered thus far

Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, recently celebrated 10 successful years of…

3 days ago

‘Every child is an artist. The challenge is to align with art, as an adult’, reveals NGMA Director

TBM recently got to speak to Needhi Chaudhary, artist and IAS officer, who heads the…

3 days ago

Centre’s approval for industrial corridor project spanning nine Karnataka districts welcomed

Member of the Legislative Assembly H.P. Swaroop Prakash recently thanked Union Ministers H.D. Kumaraswamy and…

3 days ago