As French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Mumbai on February 16, 2026, the focus of the Indo-French strategic partnership has shifted from mere procurement to deep industrial collaboration. The centerpiece of this visit is a decade-long renewal of the bilateral defense pact and a specific MoU to manufacture the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) missile on Indian soil.
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This move marks a transition from emergency imports to domestic self-reliance, ensuring that India’s frontline fighter squadrons have an uninterrupted supply of “smart” munitions.
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The HAMMER Blueprint: Why Local Production Matters
The joint venture between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defense is more than just an assembly line.
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Center of Excellence: The project will establish a technology hub for the lifecycle management, repair, and supply of the Guidance Kit (GK) and Range Extension Kit (REK).
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Economic Scale: The partnership aims for a 60% indigenization level, producing critical electronics and sub-assemblies locally to support the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
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Supply Chain Security: By shifting manufacturing to India, the IAF can bypass the long lead times associated with international defense contracts, particularly during border tensions.
Technical Edge: Fire-and-Forget Precision
The HAMMER (also known as the AASM) is a modular weapon system that essentially converts a “dumb” bomb into a precision-guided missile
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Stand-off Range: With a reach of 70 kilometers, it allows pilots to strike high-value targets without entering the lethal range of adversary air defense systems.
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Mountain Warfare: The missile is optimized for vertical dives, a feature that is “game-changing” for neutralizing bunkers hidden on steep Himalayan slopes.
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Triple-Mode Guidance: It uses a combination of INS/GPS, Infrared (IR), and Laser seekers, making it immune to GPS jamming—a common tactic in modern electronic warfare.
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Investigative Angle: Beyond Rafale – The Tejas Integration
While the HAMMER is famously paired with the Rafale, our investigation reveals a broader strategic plan: the full-scale weaponization of the LCA Tejas.
The Strategy: The IAF has already completed Phase 1 integration and successful testing of HAMMER missiles on the Tejas Mk1A. By standardizing this missile across both the French-made Rafale and the indigenous Tejas, India creates a “unified strike envelope.” This commonality reduces training overhead and simplifies the logistics of ammunition stockpiling at forward air bases.
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[INDO-FRENCH DEFENSE COOPERATION: 2026 MILESTONES]
| Project | Partner Companies | Status (Feb 2026) |
| HAMMER Missile JV | BEL & Safran | MoU Signing (Feb 17) |
| H125 Helicopters | Tata & Airbus | Assembly Line Inauguration |
| MRFA Deal | Dassault Aviation | 114 Rafale Negotiations (Ongoing) |
| Scorpene Subs | MDL & Naval Group | 3 Additional Units (Follow-on) |
Defense Diplomacy: Macron’s 2026 Mumbai-Delhi Visit
President Macron’s itinerary reflects a mix of economic muscle and geopolitical alignment.
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Mumbai (Feb 16): Bilateral meetings with business leaders and PM Modi to discuss maritime security and the H125 helicopter project.
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Bengaluru (Feb 17): Defense Ministers Rajnath Singh and Catherine Vautrin co-chair the Annual Defence Dialogue, where the formal HAMMER MoU will be witnessed.
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New Delhi (Feb 18-20): Macron will serve as the keynote speaker at the India AI Impact Summit, underscoring France’s role in India’s digital and technological future.
Next Steps
If you are following India’s aerospace growth, you should monitor the HAL Tejas flight tests in Ladakh over the coming months, as they will likely showcase the first locally-assembled HAMMER units in high-altitude trials. Furthermore, if you are a defense investor, you should track BEL’s upcoming quarterly filings for specific capital expenditure details related to the Safran joint venture.
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