Defense Express reported the information.India's Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed an agreement with France's Safran Electronics and Defence to establish local production of AASM Hammer guided air-to-ground munitions, with plans to eventually source 60% of components domestically through a 50-50 joint venture. The Indian Air Force and Navy already deploy these weapons on French Rafale and indigenous Tejas fighters, mirroring a capability that has proven highly effective in Ukrainian combat operations.The AASM Hammer has demonstrated exceptional performance in Ukraine's ongoing war, but current supply volumes fall far short of operational requirements. France planned to manufacture only 1,200 units this year, with Ukraine receiving just a portion of that production—a constraint that has military planners looking for alternatives to foreign dependency.Establishing domestic production would address multiple strategic imperatives for Ukraine. Beyond dramatically increasing supply volumes and reducing per-unit costs while strengthening the domestic defense industrial base, local manufacturing would provide crucial flexibility to scale production according to battlefield demands rather than export allocation decisions made in Paris.The case for localization becomes even more compelling when considering Ukraine's future fighter fleet composition. Kyiv has committed to purchasing 100 Rafale fighters, which use AASM Hammer as their primary precision-guided munition. Ukraine's existing Su-27, Su-25, MiG-29, and F-16 aircraft can already carry these weapons, meaning nearly the entire current Ukrainian Air Force inventory—and a significant portion of future platforms—could employ a standardized munition.With Ukraine also ordering 150 JAS 39 Gripen fighters, the potential for complete munitions standardization across the fleet presents significant logistical advantages. Using a single guided bomb type would simplify supply chains, reduce training requirements, and lower overall operational costs compared to maintaining multiple weapon systems.The AASM Hammer's technical characteristics make it particularly suited to Ukraine's operational environment. Unlike American JDAM-ER munitions, the French weapon incorporates a solid-fuel rocket motor that enables launches from lower altitudes and extends range—critical capabilities when operating in airspace contested by dense Russian air defense networks and fighter patrols.Recent uncertainty surrounding U.S. military assistance has also highlighted the risks of over-reliance on American weapons systems, whose supply can be interrupted by political decisions in Washington. A European alternative manufactured domestically would provide Ukraine with greater strategic autonomy and supply security during extended conflict.