Even before the Raphael warplanes arrived in the country during the dispute with China, India decided to buy hammer missiles from France on an emergency basis.
According to NDTV, the purpose of the hammer missiles is to further enhance the capabilities of the Raphael fighter jets.
According to the report, the hammer stand-off missile can hit its target from a distance of 70 km.
Following the emergency powers assigned to the Armed Forces by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, action is being taken to achieve the Hammer Stand of Missile.
The state-run news agency ANI, citing government sources, claimed that “orders have been placed for the acquisition of Hammer missiles, while France has agreed to provide missiles for Raphael fighter jets on an emergency basis.”
According to him, the supply of missiles to India by France on an emergency basis means that the missiles were already manufactured for another country.
The Hammer missile (extremely active) is a medium-range air-to-ground target that was originally designed and developed for the French Air Force and Navy.
Sources said the hammer missile would enable India to destroy any type of bunker or stronghold in any region, including mountainous areas like eastern Ladakh.
An Indian Air Force spokesman declined to confirm or deny progress on the acquisition of the new missile.
It may be recalled that on July 29, five Rafale fighter jets will arrive in India from France.
It should be noted that in October 2019, France handed over the first Rafale aircraft to India under an agreement reached in 2016 for the purchase of 36 aircraft.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had faced allegations of bribery and corruption in the purchase of the Raphael aircraft and the issue was raised by the Congress, India’s largest opposition party.
Negotiations between India and France for the purchase of the Raphael aircraft began in 2012 and were suspended for two years, but Modi resumed talks in 2014 after taking office.
In September 2016, the two countries signed an agreement worth 8.8 billion, including the purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft, the most expensive.