Bengaluru, February 17: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and France’s Safran Electronics and Defense have entered into a joint venture agreement to produce the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) smart precision-guided air-to-ground weapon in India. The implementation of this agreement is contingent upon regulatory and administrative approvals from both countries.
The agreement was signed by BEL’s CMD Manoj Jain and Safran’s Executive Vice President Alexander Ziegler. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and France’s Minister for Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Colonna were also present at the signing ceremony, which took place during the 6th India-France Annual Defense Dialogue.
The joint venture will see equal partnership between BEL and Safran. It aims to focus on the production, supply, and maintenance of the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range to meet the operational needs of the Indian Air Force and Navy. This collaboration is viewed as a significant step towards the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat‘ initiative, which aims to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen India’s indigenous defense capabilities.
Production will be phased in India, with key subcomponents, electronics, and mechanical parts being manufactured locally over time. Under this agreement, BEL will leverage Safran’s expertise in manufacturing smart precision-guided air-to-ground weapons.
The Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range is a battle-tested, high-precision weapon with a modular design, suitable for various platforms such as the Rafale and LCA Tejas.
BEL is India’s leading defense electronics company, producing radar, missile systems, military communication, naval systems, electronic warfare, avionics, tank electronics, weapon system upgrades, solar systems, and civilian products.
This agreement is considered a crucial milestone in enhancing India’s defense industrial capacity and facilitating the indigenous production of the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range.
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