India is advancing its defense self-reliance strategy with a new joint venture to locally produce the HAMMER precision-guided munition. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and France’s Safran Electronics & Defense (SED) have formalized an agreement to manufacture the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range system within the country. The move aims to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers while enhancing domestic weapons manufacturing capabilities.
The HAMMER is a combat-proven, precision air-to-ground munition known for its modular design and compatibility with multiple aircraft platforms. Its flexible configuration enables deployment across various mission profiles, making it a highly valuable addition to frontline air forces. Under the new partnership, the joint venture will manage the complete lifecycle of HAMMER systems for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, including localization of sub-assemblies, electronics, and mechanical parts. BEL will lead final assembly, testing, and quality certification, with indigenization expected to reach approximately 60 percent over time.
This agreement builds on an MoU signed at Aero India 2025 and reflects growing Indo-French collaboration in defense manufacturing. It also aligns with India’s broader push to strengthen its domestic defense ecosystem, where both government-run and private enterprises are taking on larger roles. Recently, VEM Technologies delivered the first Tejas MK-1A center-fuselage section to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited—the first time a major aircraft sub-assembly was produced by a private Indian company.
India’s defense industry is also expanding its infrastructure for testing and integration. Axiscades Aerospace & Technologies has opened a missile-test bench at its Aeroland campus in Devanahalli, supporting mass production and quality assurance for missile systems under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Meanwhile, Reliance Defence’s partnership with Germany’s Diehl Defence to locally produce Vulcano 155 mm precision artillery ammunition further highlights the sector’s accelerating growth.
