• Source:JND
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India and France are set to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the joint production of the HAMMER missiles during the upcoming visit of French President Emmanuel Macron. The French President will come for a three-day official visit. He will arrive in Mumbai on February 16 and will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 17, EAM S Jaishankar said. 

According to a report in The Hindu, as per the agthe HAMMER missile is expected to be manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited and French manufacturer, Safran Electronics and Defence in a 50-50 partnership. 

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What Are Hammer Missiles?

HAMMER Missiles or Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range missiles are precision-based air-to-ground missiles which are fitted in Rafale Jets. The term HAMMER is derived from the concept of a hammer strike flattening a surface, reflecting the weapon’s ability to destroy its intended target. 

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Key Features Of Hammer Missiles

  • Range: The missile has a range of 60 to 70 kilometres. It has a deadly efficacy in mountainous regions, especially against bunkers.

  • The missile was first displayed to the public during the Paris Air Show in 2007 under the name Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM). 

  • The missile was renamed Hammer in 2011 and is categorised as a medium-range air-to-ground weapon. 

  • Weight: The missile weighs around 330 kilograms and operates on a fire-and-forget principle.

  • This means that once the target is locked and the missile is launched, the missile does not need any further guidance. 

  • The system can engage both stationary and moving targets and uses advanced navigation technology to minimise the chances of missing.

  • Warhead: There are different warheads available, ranging from 125 kilograms to 1,000 kilograms. 

  • The missile has an all-weather capability and can be used during both day and night operations. 

  • A single Rafale aircraft can carry six 250-kilogram HAMMER missiles, allowing it to strike six separate targets at the same time.


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