Safran and BEL Partner to Manufacture HAMMER Weapon System in India!
By Ashutosh Arora
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and France’s Safran Electronics & Defense have signed an MoU to create a joint venture for the manufacturing, customization, sales, and maintenance of the HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) weapon system in India. The HAMMER, known for its high precision and modular design, is a combat-proven air-to-ground weapon that is compatible with platforms such as the Rafale and LCA Tejas. The MoU was signed by K V Suresh Kumar, Director-Marketing at BEL, and Alexandre Ziegler, Executive VP at Safran Electronics & Defense, with Manoj Jain, Chairman of BEL, and Franck Saudo, CEO of Safran, present at Aero India.
As part of the collaboration, the two companies will establish a Center of Excellence focused on enhancing India’s defense capabilities. This center will support manufacturing, engineering, and services such as maintenance, repair, and overhaul of optronics and navigation equipment for the Indian Armed Forces. The partnership will also include a knowledge transfer program led by BEL, with production gradually shifting to India, including final assembly, testing, and quality assurance.
This collaboration is in line with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, aiming to establish a state-of-the-art production facility in India, reduce import dependency, and bolster the country’s self-reliance and operational readiness in defense. The partnership between Safran and BEL marks a significant step toward strengthening India’s defense manufacturing capabilities and enhancing the nation’s strategic defense assets.
