Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and France’s Safran will form a joint venture to produce HAMMER precision-guided munitions in India, following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The partnership will enable local production of the HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) air-to-ground weapon system, a move aimed at strengthening India’s domestic defence manufacturing base. The agreement marks a key outcome of the bilateral discussions, which focused on expanding strategic and industrial cooperation.

The localisation of HAMMER production is expected to reduce import dependence for advanced precision weapons and support India’s push to scale up indigenous defence capabilities. The initiative aligns with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat programme, which seeks to promote domestic manufacturing and technology partnerships in critical sectors. HAMMER, officially designated AASM from the French Armament Air-Sol Modulaire, is a precision-guided air-to-ground stand-off weapon developed to bridge the gap between conventional bombs and cruise missiles.