SOURCE: AFI
At Aero India 2025, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defense, France, announced a landmark partnership to create a joint venture aimed at manufacturing, customizing, selling, and maintaining the HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon in India. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in strengthening India’s defense capabilities by localizing the production of advanced, high-performance munitions.
The agreement between BEL and Safran Electronics & Defense will bring together the technological expertise and defense manufacturing capabilities of both companies to produce the HAMMER system domestically. This joint venture aligns with India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India), which emphasizes the need for indigenous defense production to reduce dependence on foreign imports.
The HAMMER system is a next-generation, precision-guided air-to-ground weapon designed to strike high-value, time-sensitive targets with unmatched accuracy. Its extended range and modular design make it ideal for a variety of airstrikes, allowing for efficient and lethal engagement of both stationary and moving targets.
The HAMMER munition offers superior precision and flexibility, with the ability to be launched from a range of fighter jets. It is designed for precision strikes against targets like enemy infrastructure, command centers, and critical installations, ensuring that these high-value assets are neutralized with minimal collateral damage. The weapon’s agility and extended range make it particularly effective in modern aerial warfare, where accuracy and speed are crucial.
A key feature of the HAMMER system is its modularity, which allows for various configurations, such as different warheads, fuzes, and seekers. This adaptability ensures that the system can be customized to meet the specific operational requirements of the Indian Air Force, further enhancing its versatility and operational effectiveness.
Beyond manufacturing, the joint venture will also focus on the sale and maintenance of HAMMER systems, ensuring that the weapon remains in optimal operational condition throughout its lifecycle. BEL’s extensive experience in defense electronics and Safran’s expertise in precision-guided munitions will be critical in offering the Indian Armed Forces a complete, end-to-end solution, including ongoing customization and maintenance support.
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