The indigenous TEJAS fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force that recently dazzled at the Dubai Expo 2021, just received more teeth when the IAF placed orders for HAMMER missiles from France.
The hammer missile has the capability to take out any hardened bunkers or ground targets at stand-off ranges of more than 70 kilometres keeping the plane and the pilot safe from enemy radar and anti-aircraft missiles.
This development could not have come at a better time as the capability enhancement of the TEJAS fighter is being carried out amid the ongoing military stand-off with China.
The order was placed under the emergency procurement power granted by the Narendra Modi government to the defence forces.
“The HAMMER missiles are in the process of being integrated with the TEJAS and it will significantly enhance its capability to take out hardened targets from stand-off distances,” government sources told ANI.
The Indian Air Force had already acquired the HAMMERs for its Rafale fighters, however, by integrating it with Tejas the IAF has further enhanced its air to ground targeting capabilities and the French have agreed to supply them at a short notice for our Rafale combat aircraft. HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range).
As China is building bunkers, other defensive positions and upgrading its airbases with hardened aircraft shelter at the Line of Actual Control, the HAMMER is the right weapon that would take out any bunkers or hardened shelters in any type of terrain including mountainous locations such as Eastern Ladakh, the sources said.
In the last few years, the Indian armed forces have extensively exercised the discretionary power to procure weapons under the emergency procurement powers granted to them by the government to ensure aggression by enemies on both sides could be checked.
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