French President Emmanuel Macron and Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced the transfer of "several hundred" air-to-ground bombs to Ukraine. This includes modern AASM Hammer guided air bombs.
Minister Lecornu, presenting the French military assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), pointed out the significant amount of aid provided. Among them, SCALP air missiles and Caesar self-propelled artillery installations have already been received, which will number more than 70 by the end of 2024, in addition to half a hundred previously transferred. It is also stated that starting this year, France plans to increase the monthly number of 155-mm shells transferred to the Armed Forces from 2 to 3 thousand.
The press service of the French Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Ukrainians will receive AASM cruise bombs in the near future. According to them, these aerial bombs will allow the Ukrainian military to carry out accurate remote strikes to impress the rear of the Russian combat system.
Minister Lecornu also announced plans to deliver 50 bombs every month starting in January, which he said could significantly change the situation in the frontline area.
AASM technology (from the French "Armement Air-Sol Modulaire" - "modular armament of air - ground") HAMMER (abbreviation of "Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range" or "Highly maneuverable modular ammunition of increased range") was developed by the French company Safran for more than 15 years therefore, it underwent a series of modifications and improvements over the following years.
This technology involves installing a special kit on a conventional aircraft bomb, making it highly accurate and capable of long-range strikes. The AASM Hammer can be used with various standard bomb cases (125, 250, 500 and 1000 kg).
According to the manufacturer, this weapon system is autonomous and insensitive to obstacles, capable of being launched from a low height above terrain. The bomb is equipped with special devices in front and behind, which turn it into a high-precision ammunition.
A guidance system is installed on the front side, which can be satellite, infrared or laser, the latter even allows you to hit fast-moving targets. At the back, the bomb is equipped with an acceleration system with a solid-fuel jet engine and wings.
This allows the AASM Hammer to be used at a distance of about 60-70 km, regardless of weather conditions and at low altitudes. The mechanism of operation of this hybrid of a bomb and a missile is based on the principle of "fire and forget", where the projectile independently maneuvers to reach the target determined by the gunner, without the participation of the pilot of the aircraft.
Currently, it is known about the use of this weapon from Western fighters, such as the French Rafale and the American F-16. In the case of integration with the Ukrainian Su-24M or MiG-29, which is the plan for use in Ukraine, adaptation to these Soviet aircraft will be required. However, the Armed Forces of Ukraine already have experience in the successful integration of Western Storm Shadow/SCALP air-to-air missiles.
Only 1,424 AASM Hammer kits were produced in 2011, less than half of what was officially expected.
Also at that time, there was a scandal in the French media, when it turned out that the cost of the AASM Hammer, including development, is 360 thousand euros, while a similar American JDAM kit cost only 25 thousand dollars.
However, it is worth noting that French bombs have already been ordered and are being used by the armies of Qatar, Morocco, Egypt and Croatia.
Defense Express speculates about a "fairly significant stockpile" of bombs in France itself and the possibility of a "warm" production line at the manufacturer.
In addition, the developer is actively working on improving the characteristics of the bomb, in particular, increasing the range of use to 150-200 km.
French AASM Hammer bombs are preparing to become a significant addition to the Ukrainian army.
Even if similar sets of "smart bombs" are already being used at the front, in particular American JDAMs, Ukraine has experienced only limited supplies of such American weapons, which makes it difficult to use them on a large scale.
Compared to Ukraine, Russia has successfully implemented the mass production and use of its "smart bombs", such as CABs (guided air bombs) and UMPKs (bombs with a universal planning and correction module).
Launched from a fighter or bomber, these munitions have significantly greater range and accuracy thanks to satellite or inertial navigation.
In 2023, these bombs became practically the main aerial weapon of the Russian army and were actively used during the hostilities near Avdiivka and in the Kherson region. A large number of these bombs are dropped on different areas, demonstrating their high effectiveness.
Despite the fact that guided air bombs do not pose a threat to the rear areas of the Armed Forces of Ukraine due to the distance maintained by Russian aircraft, the high accuracy of the AASM Hammer can effectively destroy positions at considerable distances deep into the front line.
Taking into account the capabilities of French bombs, the Ukrainian aviation will be able to more effectively destroy Russian defensive fortifications, command posts and reduce the pressure on infantry and artillery units.
With the Hammer's accuracy, which is different from Russian KABs and UMPKs, the Ukrainian Air Force will be able to neutralize moving targets, such as air defense vehicles or ammunition convoys, at a distance from the front line.
