India-France Hammer Missile: India and France are preparing for an important defence event on February 17. On that day, French President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in Bengaluru for his three day visit to India. At the same time, both countries are expected to move ahead with a new deal to make HAMMER missiles in India. They will also extend their defence cooperation agreement for another ten years.
The HAMMER missile is a smart air-to-ground weapon that works in all weather. It is used on Rafale fighter jets. India does not want to fully depend on foreign supply for this weapon. So the plan is to produce it inside the country. Bharat Electronics Limited and Safran Electronics & Defence had already signed a joint venture agreement in November last year. Under this deal, both sides will work in a 50%-50% partnership to manufacture the missile in India.
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These missiles will be used by both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy on their Rafale jets. The Navy is set to receive 26 maritime Rafale jets starting from 2028. India is also planning to buy 114 more Rafale aircraft under the MRFA programme. This big project, worth Rs 3.25 lakh crore, was recently cleared by the defence ministry. Most of the new jets are likely to be built in India.
The HAMMER missile comes in three different versions. Each version has a special guidance system based on the kind of target and mission. The plan includes production of the HAMMER 250 XLR and HAMMER 1000 XLR models, which can strike from a longer distance. Sources say around 1,000 units may be produced every year once the line is ready. The missile, called Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range, has already been used by the Indian Air Force. It was deployed in the early hours of 7 May to hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan.
Defence Talks in Bengaluru
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will meet France’s Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin in Bengaluru for the sixth India-France Annual Defence Dialogue. The two leaders will review the defence relationship and push forward industrial cooperation.
The defence ministry said the meeting will review the “entire gamut of bilateral defence cooperation”, with focus on expanding defence industrial collaboration as the partnership increasingly moves towards co-production and technology partnerships. This shows both countries now want to design and build defence equipment together.
The ministers will also attend the virtual inauguration of the H125 Light Utility Helicopter final assembly line at Vemagal in Karnataka. This facility is a joint project between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus Helicopters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron will inaugurate it online. It will be India’s first private sector helicopter final assembly line and is expected to start building helicopters for Indian and nearby markets from early 2027.
Growing Partnership
Cooperation between India and France is not limited to missiles and jets. The Rafale ecosystem now includes aircraft support, weapons systems and maintenance work. Aero-engine development has also become a major topic. Safran has shown interest in working closely with India on fighter jet engines. Talks are also linked to engine needs for India’s future fifth generation AMCA programme.
