India’s defence landscape is evolving rapidly, with smart munitions emerging as a critical component of future-ready airpower. At the Paris Air Show 2025, global aerospace firm Safran unveiled its latest offering—the HAMMER 250 LRL, a long-range, low-yield precision-guided munition built for modern aerial warfare.
This advanced bomb, equipped with GPS/INS and laser guidance, is designed for stand-off air-to-ground and air-to-sea operations, making it ideal for India’s diverse strike scenarios.
This article takes a detailed look at how the HAMMER 250 LRL strengthens the Indian Rafale arsenal, its possible integration with Tejas, strategic manufacturing partnerships, and why it is set to become a crucial component of India’s smart munitions ecosystem.
Unpacking the HAMMER 250 LRL: AASM’s Most Tactical Offering Yet
The HAMMER 250 LRL long-range low-yield bomb is part of Safran’s AASM Hammer family—a series of modular munitions that offer scalability across weight classes and mission profiles. The HAMMER 250 bridges the gap between short-range smart bombs and long-range cruise missiles.
Precision Guidance Under All Conditions
What makes this bomb stand out is its dual-mode guidance system—GPS/INS for mid-course correction and laser guidance for terminal precision. This enables accurate engagement of fixed and moving targets, even in GPS-jammed environments, poor weather, or high-clutter terrain.
Modular Warhead Flexibility
The HAMMER 250 can be fitted with multiple warhead types, including anti-armour, blast-fragmentation, and penetrator configurations. This modular smart air-to-surface weapon offers adaptability without the need for changing airframe integration.
Extended-Range Glide Bomb Capability
Unlike traditional bombs, this extended-range glide bomb can travel over 70 km, allowing aircraft to stay outside the engagement range of enemy surface-to-air missiles. This feature makes it a formidable stand-off precision weapon suitable for high-risk zones.
HAMMER 250 and the Indian Armed Forces: A Perfect Fit
Upgrading the Indian Rafale Arsenal
India’s Rafale fighter jets, known for their cutting-edge sensors and versatility, are the first platforms in the IAF to deploy the HAMMER 250 laser and GPS-guided bomb. During Operation Sindoor, these munitions were reportedly used to carry out surgical strikes with exceptional accuracy, showcasing India’s leap into next-generation precision warfare.
Tejas Integration: Expanding Strike Options
India’s indigenous Tejas Mk1A is a natural candidate for the Safran HAMMER 70 km stand-off weapon. Integrating the HAMMER 250 into Tejas will expand the LCA’s ability to carry out deep-strike missions without compromising speed or manoeuvrability. It aligns with the IAF’s vision to create a multi-platform, high-survivability strike fleet.
Supporting Diverse Theatres: From the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean
The HAMMER’s air-to-sea integration with Rafale offers operational flexibility in maritime domains, where targeting fast-moving naval assets requires high precision. Whether it’s coastal strike missions, support for amphibious landings, or precision mountain warfare, the HAMMER delivers across scenarios.
Make in India Momentum: The Safran-BEL Collaboration
India’s Make in India defence strategy gained a new partner when Safran and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) announced a joint venture to assemble HAMMER kits domestically.
Strategic Gains for India
- Reduces reliance on imported munition kits
- Enables rapid production for frontline squadrons
- Builds sovereign capability in guidance kits: INS/GPS/laser
- Positions India as a potential export hub for AASM-class weapons
Local production of these smart munitions also aligns with India’s aspirations to lead as one of the key anti-drone, loitering munition, and guided weapon manufacturers in Asia.
HAMMER XLR Variants: Doubling the Strike Envelope
At the 2025 Paris Air Show, Safran showcased the latest developments in the series: HAMMER XLR and HAMMER 1000 XLR.
What Sets Them Apart
- Fitted with miniature turbojets
- Operational range of 150 to 200+ km
- Designed for long-range, strategic targets and maritime interdiction
The IAF is evaluating these variants for future deployment on HAL AMCA and Su-30MKI fighters. These platforms offer the payload capacity and avionics compatibility required for deep-strike smart weapons.
Why the HAMMER Outranks Other Smart Bombs
While platforms like SPICE 2000 and JDAM-ER are widely used, the HAMMER GPS/INS + laser guidance munition provides superior modularity, multi-target adaptability, and local manufacturing advantages. It outperforms many counterparts in sensor fusion, mission flexibility, and integration ease.
Its effectiveness isn’t theoretical—Safran Munition adds firepower to the Indian Rafale in real-world operations. It’s already combat-proven in French operations in Mali, Libya, and Syria
Global Confidence in AASM Hammer
The HAMMER family has seen international adoption in countries like Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, and Croatia. All of these nations have reported excellent mission success rates, validating the system’s operational maturity and versatility. The HAMMER’s inclusion in multiple air forces is a reflection of its combat-tested reliability.
As more regional conflicts demand surgical strike capability, India’s decision to adopt the AASM Hammer 250 LRL shows it is preparing to lead—not follow—in high-tech aerial warfare.
Expert Insight: What Defence Veterans Think
“The HAMMER 250 LRL isn’t just another smart bomb. It is a highly evolved munition that offers maximum impact with minimal risk,” said Wing Commander (Retd.) A. Sharma, former IAF strike planner. “Its precision strike capability from standoff ranges allows us to remain within our borders while still achieving our objectives.”
This sentiment is echoed across defence forums, where analysts describe the HAMMER as a critical asset for any nation facing asymmetric warfare threats.
Final Thoughts: India’s Precision Warfare Enters a New Era
The HAMMER 250, with its smart modular design, robust stand-off capability, and all-weather guided munition accuracy, is more than a bomb. It’s a shift in how India approaches precision aerial warfare.
Its seamless integration into both the Indian Rafale arsenal and potentially the Tejas LCA, paired with indigenous assembly under the Safran-BEL partnership, ensures it’s not only a tactical but also a strategic win for India.
As DefenceNewsIndia reported from Le Bourget, the unveiling of the HAMMER 250 marks a significant milestone in India’s roadmap to become a self-reliant, tech-forward defence power.