India France Sign 10 Year Defence Pact BEL Safran to Build HAMMER Missiles Locally
India and France Deepen Defence Ties with Historic 10-Year Pact
In a landmark development for bilateral defence relations, India and France have renewed their Defence Cooperation Agreement for another 10 years, signaling an era of deeper strategic engagement between the two nations. The agreement was signed during the 6th India-France Defence Dialogue held in New Delhi, co-chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin.
BEL-Safran HAMMER Missile Manufacturing MoU
The headline deal was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defense for the joint production of HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) missiles in India. This is not just an arms purchase — it represents genuine technology transfer and indigenous manufacturing capability.
The HAMMER missile system, already integrated with India's Rafale fighter jets, is a precision-guided air-to-ground weapon capable of striking hardened targets. By manufacturing them domestically, India achieves three critical objectives:
- Strategic self-reliance in advanced munitions
- Cost reduction through local production
- Job creation in India's defence manufacturing sector
Reciprocal Army Deployments and Joint Exercises
Beyond the missile deal, both nations agreed to reciprocal deployment of army units for joint training and interoperability exercises. This deepens the tactical-level engagement between the Indian Army and the French Armed Forces, building on existing frameworks like Exercise Shakti and joint naval exercises.
Why This Matters
The India-France defence relationship has evolved from a buyer-seller dynamic to a genuine co-development and co-production partnership. France has consistently been one of India's most reliable defence partners, from the Mirage 2000 era to the current Rafale ecosystem. This 10-year renewal, combined with the HAMMER missile production MoU, cements France's position as India's premier Western defence partner.
The Bottom Line
India is no longer content being just a buyer of French weapons. The BEL-Safran joint production model for HAMMER missiles marks a significant shift toward Make in India in defence, with technology transfer at its core. As India modernizes its armed forces and builds indigenous manufacturing capabilities, partnerships like this one with France will be the template for future defence deals.