Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a defence public sector undertaking, has partnered with France's Safran Electronics & Defence to set up a joint venture in India. The collaboration will focus on manufacturing, customising, and maintaining the HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the ongoing Aero India 2025.

K V Suresh Kumar, Director of Marketing at BEL and Alexandre Ziegler, Executive Vice President of Safran Electronics & Defence, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The signing took place in the presence of senior executives from both companies, including Manoj Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of BEL, and Franck Saudo, CEO of Safran Electronics & Defence.

Jain stressed the importance of the partnership, saying, “The proposed joint venture between BEL and Safran Electronics & Defence will be a major step toward strengthening India’s capabilities in defence manufacturing and achieving self-reliance in advanced weapon systems.” This initiative will facilitate the local production of HAMMER, decrease reliance on imports, and contribute to the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.

Franck Saudo said, “This joint venture marks an important milestone for Safran Electronics & Defence. By combining Safran’s expertise with BEL’s capabilities in smart precision-guided munitions, we are supporting India’s defence efforts while reinforcing Safran’s industrial presence in India.”

The collaboration also aims to establish a Centre of Excellence to strengthen India’s defence capabilities. This centre will support joint efforts in manufacturing, engineering, and maintenance services for the Indian armed forces, covering operational upkeep, repairs, and overhauls of optronics and navigation systems. Safran will oversee a knowledge transfer program, while production will be introduced in phases, with BEL taking charge of final assembly, testing, and quality assurance.

The HAMMER weapon system, known for its combat effectiveness and precision guidance, is planned for deployment on multiple platforms, including the Rafale fighter jet and the Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas.’