India has in recent years been insisting on producing cutting-edge weapons within the country. A joint venture agreement was signed during the French president’s visit this months between Safran and Bharat Electronics Limited to produce the highly agile modular munition extended range (HAMMER) smart precision guided air-to-ground weapon system in India. The HAMMER model of producing weapons in India could be the preferred means to acquire capabilities to manufacture other weapons systems too that would arm the Rafale aircraft in the IAF’s and Indian Navy’s service, according to the sources mentioned earlier.