India and France Seal Landmark Defence Partnership for Hammer Weapons
In a significant move to bolster its indigenous defence manufacturing, India has officially entered into a joint venture cooperation agreement with France. This partnership is aimed at the domestic production of the highly advanced 'Hammer' smart precision-guided air-to-ground weapons. These very munitions were previously utilized by the Indian Air Force during the cross-border hostilities with Pakistan in Operation Sindoor back in May.
Details of the Joint Venture Agreement
The pivotal agreement was formally signed between defence PSU Bharat Electronics (BEL) and the French firm, Safran Electronics and Defence (SED). This collaboration will materialize as a private limited company, operating on an equal 50:50 shareholding basis. The joint venture formalizes the intent that was initially expressed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities during the Aero India event in February of this year.
Capabilities and Platform Integration
The Hammer weapon system is a combat-proven, precision-guided munition renowned for its exceptional accuracy and modular design. It is specifically engineered to destroy heavily fortified targets such as bunkers and hardened shelters from impressive stand-off ranges of approximately 70 kilometres. An official highlighted that its adaptable nature makes it suitable for multiple aircraft platforms. While the French-origin Rafale fighter jets in India's arsenal are already equipped with these powerful weapons, the indigenous Tejas fighter jets are now also in the process of being integrated with the Hammer system, marking a major capability enhancement for the homegrown aircraft.
This strategic joint venture marks a crucial step towards India's goal of self-reliance in defence technology, ensuring its armed forces are equipped with world-class, precision strike capabilities.
