BEL and Safran Electronics & Defence ink Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement for production of HAMMER Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon in India in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar & CEO Safran Olivier Andries, in New Delhi on November 24, 2025.

On November 24, 2025, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a key Indian defence public-sector company, and Safran Electronics & Defence (France) signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) to produce the HAMMER smart precision-guided air-to-ground weapon in India.

The JV company will be a private-limited entity with 50:50 shareholdings between BEL and Safran.

The JVCA was inked by CMD, BEL Manoj Jain and Executive Vice President, SED Alexandre Ziegler in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar & CEO Safran Olivier Andries in New Delhi.

The JV company will be a private-limited entity with 50:50 shareholdings between BEL and Safran

Production will be localised, with BEL leading final assembly, testing, and quality assurance. So, according to the officials, the indigenisation level is planned to progressively rise to ~60 per cent, with local manufacture of key sub-assemblies, electronics, and mechanical parts.

Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement between BEL and Safran Electronics & Defence for production of HAMMER Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon in India

The JV also plans a Centre of Excellence for manufacturing, engineering, and lifecycle support (maintenance, repair, overhaul) of navigation and optronics systems.

Operationally, the JV is expected to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy for HAMMER weapons

Operationally, the JV is expected to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy for HAMMER weapons.

What Is HAMMER?

« HAMMER » stands for Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range. In technical terms, it is more popularly known by its French name AASM Hammer (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire).

Based on the modular design, the AASM/HAMMER is not a single bomb — it’s a kit that converts standard unguided (« dumb ») bomb bodies into smart precision-guided munitions.

Because of its modular design, HAMMER can be tailored for both close air support (CAS) and deep-strike operations, making it very flexible

It has two main modules:Guidance module (attached to the nose) and Range-extension tail kit (attached to the rear),and the system is compatible with different bomb sizes: 125 kg, 250 kg, 500 kg, and 1000 kg.

HAMMER is versatile as it supports three guidance kits (i.e., three seeker variants)–INS + GPS — basic inertial navigation plus satellite guidance. Next is INS + GPS + IR (infrared) — for imaging IR homing, useful in certain target conditions and INS + GPS + Laser — for laser designation guidance.

The system is designed to be « fire-and-forget » and is insensitive to jamming, which is a critical feature in contested electronic warfare environments. The jamming-resistant navigation (INS + GPS) gives HAMMER an edge in environments where electronic warfare is strong.

The tail kit includes a solid rocket motor plus aerodynamic surfaces (winglets) to give the bomb extended « stand-off » reach.

According to Safran, the range is « + 70 km » under optimal conditions when launch from low altitude is possible (over « rough terrain »), thanks to the rocket boost.

Very high precision, especially with the IR and laser variants. According to some sources, INS/GPS only: ~10 m CEP (circular error probable) and IR- or Laser-guided: ~1 m CEP in some configurations.

These bombs are effective for striking high-value fixed targets (e.g., logistics hubs, depots) and command nodes

Hammer is widely compatible with a variety of aircraft like Rafale, Mirage 2000D, Tejas, MiG-29, Su-27, and others, due to its modularity that helps in integrating with different types of bomb bodies and aircraft.

The system’s warhead is determined by the bomb body used, from 125 kg to 1000 kg variants. Common warhead/bomb types include Mk-82 (250 kg), BLU-111, or French-specific bomb bodies.

Because of its modular design, HAMMER can be tailored for both close air support (CAS) and deep-strike operations, making it very flexible. The controlled-angle-of-impact capability, thanks to the guidance kit, allows for optimised glancing or penetrating strikes.

HAMMER (AASM) in the Russia-Ukraine War

Though the JV in India is new, HAMMER (AASM) has become operationally relevant in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Over 600 Hammer bombs are reportedly already delivered to Ukraine by the end of 2024.

France has significantly ramped up production of Hammer bombs. For 2025, it reportedly plans to produce 1,200 units, up from around 830 in 2024.

These kits have been adapted for use on Ukrainian Su-25 and MiG-29 aircraft (Soviet-era jets) in record time (under four months).

While promising, there are challenges and risks, as even with phased indigenisation, critical modules (guidance, propulsion) may still be imported

According to experts, their pilots speak positively of the HAMMER, especially for its standoff capability and precision. Reports suggest these bombs are effective for striking high-value fixed targets (e.g., logistics hubs, depots) and command nodes.

Due to their modularity and precision, they are more efficient than some unguided glide bombs in terms of minimising collateral damage while delivering significant firepower. This makes HAMMER one of the more significant non-missile precision munitions in the conflict.

Strategic Implications for India

The JV between BEL and Safran to produce HAMMER in India has several strategic ramifications. For the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Navy, locally produced HAMMERs can enhance strike capability — both for close support and deep strike roles.

While promising, there are challenges and risks, as even with phased indigenisation, critical modules (guidance, propulsion) may still be imported initially, which can be a bottleneck.

Precision weapons like HAMMER are expensive so scaling production in India will require consistent demand to be economically viable.

Furthermore, there will be some regulatory issues. Exporting such munitions may bring regulatory complexities, both from the Indian side and international regimes.

As seen in Ukraine, guided munitions may face electronic warfare or countermeasures so developing counter-countermeasures will be important.

Given HAMMER’s proven combat utility (including in high-intensity conflict like Ukraine), modular design, and extended range, it is a powerful addition to India’s munitions portfolio. At the same time, ensuring effective technology transfer, scaling up production, and managing geopolitical dynamics will be crucial to realising the full potential of this collaboration.

Manish Kumar Jha is a Consulting & Contributing Editor for SP’s Aviation, SP’s Land Forces and SP’s Naval Forces and a security expert. He writes on national security, military technology, strategic affairs & policies.