New Delhi: The Indian Air Force is all set to enhance the Rafale’s capabilities, which will be arriving in the country soon, by equipping it with the HAMMER missiles from France.
“The order for the HAMMER standoff missiles is being processed and the French authorities have agreed to supply them to us at a short notice for our Rafale combat aircraft,” government sources told ANI.
The development comes amid the ongoing tensions with China along the Line of Actual Control.
HAMMER (Highly Agile Module Munition Extended Range) is a medium-range air-to-ground weapon designed and manufactured for the French Air Force and Navy initially. According to sources, the HAMMERS would give India the capability to take out any bunkers or hardened shelters in any type of terrain including the mountainous locations such as Eastern Ladakh.
Five Rafale would arrive in India from France on July 29 and their advanced weaponry including the long-rage SCALP and Meteor missiles would have reached India before their touchdown.