Current Context: On November 24, 2025, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defence (France) signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement in New Delhi.
.png "BEL and Safran Sign JV Cooperation Agreement")
- The agreement establishes a 50:50 Joint Venture Company (JVC) to manufacture, supply, and maintain the HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon in India.
- It builds upon the MoU signed at Aero India on February 11, 2025.
- The signing was attended by BEL CMD Manoj Jain, SED EVP Alexandre Ziegler, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, and Safran CEO Olivier Andries.
- HAMMER is a combat-tested, modular precision-guided weapon that can be integrated across multiple aircraft platforms.
- The JV will cater to the Indian Air Force and Navy, strengthening Aatmanirbhar Bharat and reducing dependence on imports.
- It also promotes technology transfer, local defence manufacturing, and job creation in India.
Question:
Q1. The Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement signed between BEL and Safran on November 24, 2025 focuses primarily on the manufacturing of which weapon system?
a) Astra Air-to-Air Missile
b) HAMMER Smart Precision Guided Weapon
c) BrahMos Cruise Missile
d) Akash Surface-to-Air Missile
Answer: b)The JV was created specifically to manufacture, supply, and maintain the HAMMER Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon in India.
