BEL & SAFRAN Ink MoU to Manufacture Hammer Missiles in India

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin co-chaired the 6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on February 17, 2026. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, with discussions covering a wide range of security issues and priority areas for co-development and co-production of defence equipment.

Both Ministers emphasised the need to further deepen the India–France defence partnership by enhancing institutional cooperation and strengthening industrial linkages, particularly in niche and emerging technologies. They underlined the importance of closer collaboration between defence industries of the two countries to support capability development and strategic autonomy.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing military-to-military cooperation as a key pillar of the Indo-French Strategic Partnership. The Raksha Mantri noted that the recently concluded India–EU Security and Defence Partnership marked a significant step in expanding collective engagement with Europe. Both Ministers agreed to leverage this framework bilaterally and within the broader European context to deliver tangible outcomes that strengthen regional stability, enhance joint capabilities, and reinforce long-term strategic alignment.

In a major step towards closer operational cooperation, India and France announced the reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments. The two sides also signed the renewal of the 10-year defence cooperation agreement, with the document exchanged between senior defence officials from both countries.

A key outcome of the dialogue was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the manufacture of HAMMER missiles in India. The agreement was signed between Bharat Electronics Limited and Safran Electronics & Defense. The HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) is a precision-guided, all-weather air-to-ground weapon system known for its high accuracy and modular design. Defence officials said the joint venture aligns with India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, while also strengthening India’s precision-strike capabilities and expanding industrial cooperation with France.

Congratulating Ms Vautrin on assuming office and welcoming her on her maiden visit to India, Shri Rajnath Singh said her tenure comes at a critical juncture for European and global security. He added that India deeply appreciates France’s consistent support for strategic autonomy and a strong European defence posture. The French Defence Minister, in turn, welcomed the decision to convert the bilateral Army exercise ‘Shakti’ from a biennial to an annual engagement, describing it as a reflection of growing trust and interoperability.

The Raksha Mantri also reiterated India’s role as a ‘First Responder’ and ‘Net Security Provider’ in the Indian Ocean Region, noting that New Delhi continues to extend defence, security, and maritime assistance to regional partners to strengthen their capabilities and counter emerging threats.

On the issue of terrorism, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that Pakistan has a long history of supporting cross-border terrorism, which he said poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability.

The Annual Defence Dialogue serves as a structured, ministerial-level mechanism to review and guide bilateral defence and security cooperation. Earlier in the day, the French Defence Minister was accorded a Guard of Honour upon her arrival at the HAL airport in Bengaluru.