India has taken a significant step forward in localizing advanced weapon technologies through a new joint venture to produce the HAMMER precision-guided munition domestically. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defense (SED) have signed a formal agreement to manufacture the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range system in India, strengthening the country’s long-term goal of developing an independent defense industrial base.
The HAMMER is a highly adaptable, combat-proven air-to-ground munition favored for its modular configuration and multi-platform compatibility. Under the joint venture, the companies will provide end-to-end lifecycle support for the Indian Air Force and Navy—from localized sub-assembly production to electronics, mechanical components, and system integration. BEL will oversee the final assembly line as well as testing and quality control processes, with plans to achieve roughly 60 percent indigenization in the coming years.
This collaboration follows a memorandum of understanding signed at Aero India 2025 and underscores deepening strategic cooperation between India and France. It also complements ongoing domestic defense manufacturing initiatives involving both public-sector firms and private manufacturers. Among recent milestones, VEM Technologies produced the first center-fuselage assembly for the Tejas MK-1A fighter jet—a breakthrough achievement for India’s private aerospace industry.
The country’s defense buildup also includes new infrastructure to support weapons testing and mass production. Axiscades Aerospace & Technologies recently inaugurated a missile-test bench at its Devanahalli Aeroland facility, enabling advanced testing and integration under the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework. Additionally, Reliance Defence’s agreement with Diehl Defence to locally manufacture Vulcano 155 mm precision-guided artillery rounds reflects India’s rapidly expanding domestic defense manufacturing capability.
