Ukraine will soon receive AASM cruise bombs from France

Are the smart bombs that France will provide to Ukraine in January capable of changing the course of the war? The transfer of “several hundred” air-to-ground bombs was announced by French President Emmanuel Macron and Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

It’s about writes January 20 Air Force, about modern guided bombs AASM Hammer. The press service of the French Ministry of Defense confirmed that Ukraine will receive them in the near future: “These bombs make it possible to carry out precise remote strikes to hit the rear of the Russian army.”

In addition, speaking about French military assistance, Lecornu drew attention to its significant volumes: we are talking about SCALP aircraft missiles already provided and more than 70 Caesar self-propelled artillery units, which will be transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2024 in addition to the fifty provided previously. It is also planned to increase the monthly number of 155-mm shells transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces from 2 to 3 thousand.

Regarding cruise bombs, Lecornu noted that, starting in January, a monthly delivery of 50 units is planned. This is a tangible amount that can qualitatively change the situation near the front line.

AASM technology (“Armement Air-Sol Modulaire” or “modular air-to-ground weapons”) HAMMER (“Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range” or “Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range”, translated from English as “hammer” ) was developed by the French company Safran 15 years ago, but over the years it has undergone a number of modifications and improvements. The main idea was to install a special kit on a regular aircraft bomb, making it highly accurate and long-range. AASM Hammer is compatible with different bomb standards (125, 250, 500 and 1000 kg). The description on the manufacturer’s website says:

“Autonomous and immune to interference, this weapon system can be launched from low altitude over rough terrain.”

Special devices are installed on the front and back of the bomb, turning it into a precision-guided munition. A guidance system is installed ahead – satellite, infrared or laser. The latter allows you to hit even fast moving targets. An acceleration system is installed behind the bomb. It has a solid propellant jet engine and small stabilizer wings. All this allows the AASM Hammer to be used at a range of about 60–70 km, in any weather and at low altitude.

The bomb-missile hybrid operates on the “fire and forget” principle: the projectile independently maneuvers to a target determined by the gunner without involving the aircraft pilot.

The manufacturer claims that the bomb works in 99% of cases. Although it is known about the use of these weapons only by Western fighters – the French Rafale and the American F-16. In the case of Ukraine, air bombs will have to be adapted to the Soviet Su-24M or MiG-29. However, the Ukrainian Armed Forces already have positive experience in integrating Western Storm Shadow/SCALP aircraft missiles with these aircraft.

The Ukrainian analytical portal Defense Express claims that in 2011, according to official data, 1,424 AASM Hammer kits were manufactured, that is, two times less than expected. In addition, a scandal erupted in the French media when it turned out that the cost of the AASM Hammer, including development, was 360 thousand euros, and the cost of a similar American JDAM kit was only 25 thousand dollars. At the same time, French bombs were ordered and are already being used by the armies of Qatar, Morocco, Egypt and Croatia. Based on this information, Defense Express speculates that France itself has a “very significant stockpile” of bombs. Meanwhile, designers are working to increase the range of use of the bomb to 150-200 km.

Although Ukraine has been using similar sets of “smart bombs”, American JDAM, at the front since mid-2023, it is not possible to use them en masse – supplies are insignificant. French AASM Hammers are capable of significantly strengthening the Ukrainian army.

Russia, unlike Ukraine, writes the BBC, was able to establish mass production and, accordingly, the use of its “smart bombs” at the front. We are talking about UABs (guided aerial bombs) and UMPCs (bombs with a universal planning and correction module). Such ammunition launched from a fighter or bomber flies much further and, thanks to satellite or inertial navigation, hits the target more accurately. These bombs became perhaps the main air weapon of the Russian army in 2023. Russian aviation was especially active in using UABs near Avdeevka and in the Kherson region. On November 26, 2023 alone, the Russians dropped 10 guided bombs of varying power on the village of Krynki in the Kherson region. They were also used in the border Sumy and Kharkov regions.

However, these munitions do not pose a threat to the rear of the Ukrainian army, since Russian aircraft, as a rule, try not to approach the front line closer than 30-40 km, fearing Ukrainian air defense. But even in such conditions, guided aerial bombs are capable of hitting targets to a depth of 10-15 km, and Ukraine does not have enough air defense systems to neutralize such attacks. If France provides a sufficient number of its AASM Hammers, then the Ukrainian Air Force will be able to fully respond to Russian airstrikes.

Heavy French bombs will be able to more effectively destroy Russian defensive structures and command posts, and will take some of the load off infantry and artillery units. And given the greater accuracy of the Hammer compared to the Russian UAB and UMPC, Ukrainian aviation will have the opportunity to destroy Russian moving targets, for example, air defense systems or convoys with ammunition at a distance from the front line, the publication notes.

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