India’s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and France’s Safran Electronics and Defence (SED) signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA).
| Photo Credit: PIB
India’s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and France’s Safran Electronics and Defence (SED) signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) on Monday (November 24, 2025) to manufacture the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) precision-guided air-to-ground weapon in India.
The agreement was signed in New Delhi by BEL CMD Manoj Jain and SED Executive Vice President Alexandre Ziegler. Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and Safran CEO Olivier Andries were present for the ceremony.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the JV is a major boost to the Make in India initiative. The JVCA builds on an MoU signed during Aero India on February 11, 2025, and confirms plans to establish a 50:50 joint venture company in India. The private limited entity will focus on the local manufacture, supply, and lifecycle support for HAMMER munitions for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
Indigenisation levels will be progressively increased to nearly 60%, with key electronics, sub-assemblies and mechanical components to be produced domestically. Production transfer will take place in phases, with BEL responsible for final assembly, testing and quality assurance, the Ministry added.
The HAMMER system, already combat-proven, is valued for its precision, modular architecture and compatibility with platforms such as the Rafale and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft.
The agreement marks a significant step in strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem while leveraging SED’s global expertise in smart precision-guided weapons.
Published – November 24, 2025 10:01 pm IST
