Hammer missiles are key payloads carried by Rafale fighter aircraft. It is expected to be manufactured by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) through a 50–50 JV with Safran Electronics & Defence
| Photo Credit:
PTI
India and France are likely to sign an MoU for a joint venture for indigenous production of Hammer missiles, which are payloads carried by Rafale fighter aircraft, besides extending by another ten years the existing defence cooperation agreement on February 17 — the day French President Emmanuel Macron lands in Bengaluru to begin his three-day official visit.
Hammer, an all-weather air-to-surface smart stand-off weapon, is expected to be manufactured by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) through a 50–50 joint venture with its original French manufacturer, Safran Electronics & Defence. It will be mounted on Rafale fighter aircraft used by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, which will start receiving 26 maritime versions from 2028. The Defence Acquisition Council has also approved a contract to initiate formal government-to-government negotiations for another 114 Rafales, the majority of which will be produced in India. The missile comes in three variants, with different guidance options depending on the target and operational context.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will co-chair the sixth India-France Annual Defence Dialogue with Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs of France Catherine Vautrin in Bengaluru, to review the entire gamut of bilateral defence cooperation, with a focus on expanding industrial collaboration, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Sunday.
An announcement is also expected regarding the reciprocal deployment of officers at the Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments.
The two Ministers are also expected to witness the virtual inauguration of the H125 light utility helicopter final assembly of Tata Airbus by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, at Vemagal in Karnataka.
This would be the first visit of Catherine Vautrin to India after assuming office as French Defence Minister. The India-France Annual Defence Dialogue is a structured ministerial-level bilateral meeting to review and guide defence and security cooperation. The fifth edition of the meeting was held in France from October 11 to October 13, 2023.
Defence has traditionally formed an important pillar of the relationship between the two countries. The strong and enduring bilateral ties were vividly reflected in 2024-2025 through a series of high-profile exchanges. Prime Minister Modi was the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade in July 2023, before the French President attended the Republic Day Parade 2024 as the Chief Guest.
Published on February 15, 2026
