French AASM bombs for Ukraine

AASM bomb based on 250 kg ammunition in flight configuration

The French authorities promised the Kyiv regime new aviation means of destruction. Following the SCALP guided missiles, they plan to transfer AASM guided bombs to it. The first batch of this weapons, including several dozen products, will be transferred to the Ukrainian side in the very near future. Then similar batches will be transferred monthly, at least until the end of this year. It is assumed that the French bombs will help the remnants of the Ukrainian Air Force increase their strike capabilities.

Official statements

On January 17, a press conference was held in Paris with the participation of senior French leadership. One of the central topics of the event was military assistance to the Kyiv regime. French President Emmanuel Macron indicated his readiness to continue supplies of various weapons and equipment, incl. modern aviation weapons made in France.

According to E. Macron, in the foreseeable future France will transfer to Ukraine’s military forces an additional batch of 40 cruise missiles, as well as hundreds of aircraft guided bombs. The type of missiles planned for shipment is clear - these are SCALP-EG products, which have already been supplied to the Kyiv regime. The president did not name the model of bombs that will be included in the next aid packages.

Soon this topic was revealed by French Defense Minister Sebastian Lecornu. According to him, we are talking about guided bombs of the AASM type, also known as HAMMER. It is expected that these weapons will help restore the combat potential of the Ukrainian Air Force and allow them to attack remote ground targets.

Bomb assembly (in background) and various control modules

The minister revealed the volumes and pace of future supplies. According to him, the first batch of 50 bombs will be sent to Ukraine during January. In the future, similar batches will be shipped monthly, at least until the end of the year. Accordingly, in total, the Kiev regime will receive 600 products, i.e. several hundred, as E. Macron promised.

Other details of future deliveries have not yet been specified. Thus, the specific modification of bombs for supply, the cost of such assistance, platforms for use, methods of integration, etc. are not named. Probably, data of this kind will begin to appear in the near future - when the weapon reaches Ukraine and attempts to use it in combat begin. Kyiv will definitely show off its new clothes and show bombs and their carriers.

Family of weapons

The development of future AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire - Modular Air-to-Ground Weapons) or HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) family ammunition began in 1997 at the initiative of the French Ministry of Defense. The department wanted to obtain precision bombs for use by existing and future fighter-bombers. At the same time, new ammunition should have been made using ready-made components.

Several French and foreign companies participated in the competitive development phase, incl. SAGEM (now part of the Safran group). In 2000, its AASM bomb project was considered the most successful, and the Ministry of Defense issued a contract to continue the development, pre-production and testing of new weapons. Under the terms of the agreement, deliveries of serial bombs were to start in 2004.

AASM products of various modifications and calibers

For various reasons, the development of the AASM project was seriously delayed. By the end of 2004, when it was planned to launch the series, flight tests had just begun. This phase lasted until mid-2006 and revealed some design flaws. It took another couple of years to fix them.

Qualification (state) tests of the AASM / HAMMER of the first versions took place in July 2008. Over the following years, the following modifications of the bomb underwent similar testing. In the recent past, another modification was created, and its tests took place in 2020-23.

Serial production of new bombs began at the end of the 2,5s and continues to this day. SAGEM / Safran consistently mastered the production of weapons of various modifications and regularly supplied the French Air Force and Navy with batches of the required size. According to known data, the French Ministry of Defense acquired a total of at least 3-250 thousand bombs of various modifications. The cost of one such product reached XNUMX thousand euros.

The combat use of AASM products began in 2008 - Rafale fighters used them to hit targets in Afghanistan. Subsequently, bombs of this line were used during the Libyan operation. It is now assumed that AASM/HAMMER will be used by the Ukrainian Air Force against the Russian Army.

The starting customer for bombs from SAGEM was the French armed forces. In the 1900s, Egypt, India, Qatar and Morocco acquired these weapons in various modifications. The Safran company expects orders from other countries, but the list of potential buyers remains unknown.

340 kg AASM products (green products) and other weapons under the wing of the Dassaul Rafale fighter

Technical features

From a technical point of view, the AASM project is similar to the American JDAM. It provides for the creation of an adjustable aerial bomb by installing a control system on a free-falling munition. A modular architecture is used, which allows the production of bombs of different calibers and with different characteristics. In addition, there is a well-known potential for further modernization, used in the latest projects of the family.

The general design of the AASM product is quite simple. Two new units are installed on the body of the basic unguided base. A control module appears on the nose with a navigation system and/or homing head and with the corresponding computing facilities. On the outside there are fixed X-shaped stabilizers, immediately behind which there are rudders. Instead of the standard shank, a new compartment with a folding wing of limited span is mounted. Depending on the dimensions of the unguided bomb used, a special adapter can be used to install the head control module.

Three versions of the control unit have been developed. The basic one had only satellite and inertial navigation for guidance according to pre-entered target coordinates. Subsequently, we developed a module with INS/GPS and an infrared homing head. A product with a semi-active laser seeker is also offered. Heads of both types allow you to hit moving targets with low angular velocity. For coordinate guidance, the stated CEP is at the level of 8-10 m, when using a seeker - up to 1-3 m.

Early AASM bombs fly along a ballistic trajectory, corrected by navigation or seeker data. Depending on various product parameters and release conditions, the range of such a flight does not exceed several tens of kilometers. Recent designs have used a tail module with a small solid propellant motor. The initial acceleration of the bomb allows you to increase the gliding range to 50-70 km or more.

The first production version of the AASM/HAMMER for France was based on the American-designed Mk 82 unguided bomb, standard for NATO. It was originally a product 2,2 m long and 273 mm in diameter in a caliber of 500 pounds (actually 241 kg). After installing the AASM modules, the bomb’s length increased to 3,1 m and its weight increased to 340 kg.

Later, modifications of the guided AASM were developed based on free-fall ammunition of 125, 500 and 1000 kg calibers. Various combinations of base bombs and control systems were tested. The possibility of continuing the development of the family and creating further modifications is not excluded.

Real potential

Products of the Safran AASM / HAMMER family are completely modern guided bombs with fairly high technical and combat characteristics and flexibility of use. French combat aviation is pleased with this weapon and has used it effectively in actual combat operations. In general, we are talking about a good analogue of the American JDAM system.

The positive qualities of AASM bombs are the relative simplicity of design and manufacture, the possibility of assembly based on several bombs and the modular architecture of the new equipment. It is possible to manufacture bombs with different guidance means, varying power and increased range.

However, the Ukrainian Air Force should not hope that French bombs will affect its combat effectiveness. The possibility of effective use of such weapons against a developed enemy in the form of the Russian army raises serious doubts. This is due both to the characteristics of foreign products and to the specifics of the “industrial forces”.

First test drop of a long-range AASM based on a 1000 kg bomb, December 2020.

Apparently, France will provide Ukraine with bombs of early modifications, equipped only with navigation systems. As practice has shown, our army knows how to deal with ammunition of this kind and suppress the radio signals they need. In addition, modern radars and air defense systems/air defense systems are capable of detecting even such small targets and successfully intercepting them. The likelihood of breaking through Russian air defense and hitting the intended target is low.

It should be borne in mind that an aerial bomb needs a carrier aircraft. The Ukrainian Air Force has a limited fleet of vehicles capable of carrying AASM bombs or other similar weapons. Moreover, every bomber or fighter-bomber is a potential target for our air defense. An attempt to use imported bombs could be fatal for their carrier. The limited range of unpowered bombs will only increase the risks for aircraft.

A characteristic disadvantage of AASM / HAMMER products is their high cost. Even in early simple modifications, bombs cost about 250 thousand euros, i.e. many times larger than American JDAM or Russian KAB. It is not difficult to calculate how much it will cost France to restore its arsenals after the transfer of 600 bombs to Kyiv. Whether Paris will find at least 150 million euros for such purchases is a big question.

familiar script

Thus, the scenario that occurred several times in 2022-23 is repeated. The foreign partner plans to transfer weapons from its arsenals to the Kyiv regime and has high hopes for it. But objective factors will prevent the effective use of such weapons, and Ukrainian formations will not get the desired result.

AASM guided bombs, like other weapons produced in France and other countries, will not affect the course of hostilities and the prospects of the Kyiv regime. However, they will create some additional risks for our troops and add work to air defense. At least as long as Ukraine has potential carriers for foreign bombs.

Comments

[Lech from Android.]

How will we respond to the French by hurting them?
But Macron is going to create an artillery coalition of Western countries.

[Darkness]

We won't answer anything. As always.
We are terpils.

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote from Mraka

We won't answer anything. As always.
We are terpils.

You may be. But Russia, at least not always. Because it is France that is doing dirty tricks out of really impotent anger, and from Africa they are kicking it with the obvious support of Russia.

The likelihood of breaking through Russian air defense and hitting the intended target is low.

Unfortunately, the entire LBS cannot be covered, but the relatively low range, even when dropped from high altitudes, is somewhat consoling, and the fact that 50 per month is a minor dirty trick compared to the 100+ per day UMPC.

[Civil]

1. The decision to transfer weapons to the enemy’s allies is always announced after the transfer. That is, the bombs are already in Ukraine.
2. Without carriers it would not have been transmitted. This means that our suspicions about the use of the F-16 are well founded.
3. Nevertheless, our UMPCs are used many times more. For now, this is the only way we can realize our numerical superiority in the air.

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote: Civil

2. Without carriers it would not have been transmitted. This means that our suspicions about the use of the F-16 are well founded.

From what remote place/fly are you writing? How are Storms/Scalps used with Rafales/Eurofighters? Have you heard of KARM AGM-88, haven’t you?

[Civil]

Quote: Vladimir_2U

Quote: Civil

2. Without carriers it would not have been transmitted. This means that our suspicions about the use of the F-16 are well founded.

From what remote place/fly are you writing? How are Storms/Scalps used with Rafales/Eurofighters? Have you heard of KARM AGM-88, haven’t you?

The resource of ancient Soviet aircraft is not endless. As is their number. The latest events are too successful for the Ukrainian litaks.

[Petio]

Most likely they adapted the MiG-29 to use them. After all, they use the GBU-62 - JDAM - ER. Su-27 too.

[AdAstra]

Then you tell the military on the front line “about powerless anger” or the civilians who live in the border zone when such a “powerless evil gift” arrives for them.

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote from AdAstra

Then you tell the military on the front line “about powerless anger” or the civilians who live in the border zone when such a “powerless evil gift” arrives for them.

The dirty trick is that it is unpleasant, and even very unpleasant, but it cannot change anything globally. But idiots don't understand this...

[AdAstra]

"But idiots don't understand this..."
Self-criticism is good.

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote from AdAstra

Self-criticism is good.

It’s a pity it’s not available to you... How inaccessible is the understanding that:
The dirty trick is that it is unpleasant, and even very unpleasant, but it cannot change anything globally.

[AdAstra]

But you know, let’s leave out the military now, with the exception of the mobilized ones, for them this is a professional matter - work and they knew what would happen when they signed the contract. But for a civilian who lives in a city, village, within the reach of this bomb, and now, take my word for it, when this bomb flies and kills his family and friends, this is not, as you put it, a “dirty trick,” but a tragedy without the end and the edge and he deeply does not care that in global terms it has not changed anything. He will be more interested in why this bomb was able to reach the border with the Russian Federation and then fall where his family and friends were, and not the family and friends of those who, for example, promised to click it all like “seeds.”

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote from AdAstra

But you know, let’s leave out the military now, with the exception of the mobilized ones, for them this is a professional matter - work and they knew what would happen when they signed the contract. But for a civilian who lives in a city, village, within the reach of this bomb, and now, take my word for it, when this bomb flies and kills his family and friends, this is not, as you put it, a “dirty trick,” but a tragedy without the end and the edge and he deeply does not care that in global terms it has not changed anything. He will be more interested in why this bomb was able to reach the border with the Russian Federation and then fall where his family and friends were, and not the family and friends of those who, for example, promised to click it all like “seeds.”

Why are you lamenting here, wringing your hands, go to the French embassy in Moscow, protest there, go to Paris, Brussels and there pour out how the French are homosexuals in the worst sense.
Or do you see it is not the French who are to blame?

[AdAstra]

I understand - a conversation between a deaf and a dumb person. For this I will stop the exchange of letters.

[English tarantas]

Nasty

A dirty trick for you, but life for someone else.
But where do you go

puzzles

for you, like many publicists now, everything

very unpleasant

и

some additional risks for our

.

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote: Vladimir_2U

Why are you lamenting here, wringing your hands, go to the French embassy in Moscow, protest there, go to Paris, Brussels and there pour out how the French are homosexuals in the worst sense.
Or do you see it is not the French who are to blame?

[Romario_Argo]

The entire LBS cannot be covered

I agree, the depth of the LBS reaches 15 km
gray zone, minefields, barriers, forward positions, military outposts, 1st, 2nd, 3rd lines of defense, tank and artillery positions

[Gnefredov]

We won't answer anything. As always.
We are terpils.

You are somehow responsible for yourself. Under such short-sighted crap that you outlined, sign yourself, don’t smear others

[wlkw]

Already answered. They were thrown out of Africa, and so they went into all sorts of troubles...

[Xenofont]

Still, we need to show understanding when assessing the inaction of our leadership in response to the harsh policies of the West. I am firmly convinced that the Kremlin cannot part with the idea of ​​“entry” and continues to hope that it is possible to return to the state of the 90s and XNUMXs. Albeit on a different level, but almost “like under grandma.” In general, time is working against us, despite the self-proclaimed political scientists who claim the opposite, because the West needs precisely time to overcome the inertia of stagnation in military affairs. They have enormous potential for collective confrontation with Russia, and we are forced to work at the limit of our capabilities, without outside support. We won't last long like this.

[Dmitry Rigov]

Peskov’s daughter in Paris is still not “building bridges” well; she should be exiled to Siberia.

[Uncle lee]

the Kyiv regime will receive 600 products

Does the Ukrainian Armed Forces have that many delivery vehicles?

[Dutchman Michel]

Quote from Uncle Lee

Does the Ukrainian Armed Forces have that many delivery vehicles?

Waiting for F-16

[Uncle lee]

Quote: Dutchman Michel

Waiting for F-16

Wait for an answer....Wait for an answer...Wait for an answer....The subscriber is out of coverage!

[Maxim G]

It depends on what kind of bombs they are, they are of different weights.

[Gnefredov]

But Macron is going to create an artillery coalition of Western countries.

Even if they strain themselves a lot, it takes at least about a year - *. Then we’ll see (a lot can change in a year).

* - a coalition will be drawn on paper quickly, there is no doubt about it. Now that the physical supplies are sorted out, if they get it done within a year, it will be a sprint.

[rocket757]

We discussed and discussed, what is it again???
Have they gotten better since yesterday? Do they promise to give them even more? They promise to give them tomorrow? Did they promise to provide carriers with them? Have they become more convenient and safer to use???
What has changed since yesterday?

[Ig sura]

A couple of these bombs fell into the hands of the Russian Federation, intact, first to disassemble them themselves and see all the filling and then give them to the Yemenis, let them have fun with the ships of Pin.do.sia and its allies, it will be very interesting to look at Macron’s face

[Maxim G]

French wines, cognacs, and cars are freely sold in Russia.

Quote: Lech from Android.

How will we respond to the French by hurting them?

[Romario_Argo]

they are only called French
cognacs and wines are bottled here, cars - complete localization of production is ours
legal entities are also all ours,
If the founders include businesses from unfriendly countries, then money transfers by bank transfer to such companies are limited to no more than 10 million rubles per month
Federal Law 115 - and what kind of business is this (?)

[Maxim G]

As usual, you write nonsense.
Wines and cognacs are produced in France.
Read the label.
Ren and PSA have never had complete localization.
But dealers have new cars, manufactured abroad. Watch the core.

[Romario_Argo]

As usual, you write nonsense.

of course,
who communicates with whom has such information
someone with large taxpayers - and sees all their schematics
and someone ""yellow press"" - for the general public

[Maxim G]

Which factory produces Dourthe n 1 wine in the Russian Federation, and which factory produces Citroen C 5 X, C 5 Aircoss cars in a completely localized manner?

[Shelest2000]

If someone had, let’s not say out loud, eggs, they would answer. For example, gray supplies to the French barmaley (and not only the French) of captured small arms, RPGs, grenades, Stingers, etc. But there are no eggs, so only words. But they only understand power.

[cat Rusich]

Quote: Lech from Android.

How will we respond to the French by hurting them?
But Macron is going to create an artillery coalition of Western countries.

Using the “right people” to provoke unrest among the “Arabs” in France... and “on the quiet” to blow up several strategic sites - blame everything on the “rebels”, but so that the “paddling pools” understand how much it will cost them to support the Nazis in Ukraine.

[vik669]

Until it all flies back to the coalition being created, this bastard will not calm down - cattle only understands a stick!

[Voronezh]

All reasoning can be boiled down to one thing - there will be no carriers and places where they will be based, and there will be no threat of using these bombs.

[Boris Sergeev]

24.02.2022

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation: “Now a few very important words for those who may be tempted to intervene in ongoing events. Whoever tries to prevent us, and even more so, to create threats for our country and people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history. We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions have been made. I hope I will be heard."

[AdAstra]

Come on, everyone has already forgotten, including the one who said these words.

[Kmon]

This meant direct intervention, obviously. Proxy wars have always been considered the norm. The USSR did not launch a nuclear strike on the United States for helping Afghanistan, and the United States for helping Vietnam and Korea.

[Boris Sergeev]

Here it is, it turns out! But your examples are not very good. Would you like to guess how the United States would respond if the Russian Federation supplied missiles and gave target designations to “proxies” shelling American cities?

[Kmon]

Do you think they would press the red button and have everyone burn in an atomic flame? Or would they have invaded the Russian Federation and exchanged nuclear strikes, only to once again burn everyone in the atomic flame? I seriously doubt it. They simply would not allow such a scenario to happen by razing the proxy country to the ground or bringing the desired government to power.

[Boris Sergeev]

Without any shelling of their territory, with the help of Russia, they took and blew up the strategic Nord Stream gas pipeline. And no answer to them.

[Yaroslav Tekkel]

As long as I am president, there will be no increase in the retirement age, there will be no changes to the constitution, there will be no mobilization... Why should the president not lie in this particular case?

[Ivanov IV]

Let me emphasize: we are talking about AIR BOMBS. And they need AIRPLANES. And not AN-2.
It turns out that despite all the Victory reports from the Headquarters of Genius, the Banderlogs have everything. And everything is used.
Maybe they’ll hang Konashenkov by the balls, and he’ll tell us everything in a raised voice.

[Dekabrist]

340 kg AASM products (green products) and other weapons under the wing of the Dassaul Rafale fighter

340 kg products do not exist. There are 125, 250, 500, 1000.

[Dekabrist]

Even in early simple modifications, bombs cost about 250 thousand euros, i.e. many times larger than American JDAM or Russian KAB.

The author, behind all his verbiage, has no time to understand the issue. 250 euros, this is the 000 price, which includes development costs. In 2011, Safran already declared a price of 2017 euros. Today the price will be even lower given the increase in production for India and Ukraine.

[svp67]

Quote: Dekabrist

Today the price will be even lower given the increase in production for India and Ukraine.

Oh? Somehow the story with prices for 155-mm shells suggests the opposite

[svp67]

This is the “load” for which the MiG-29, Su-25, F-16 and A-10 can be used

[Ghost1]

If they converted Western missiles for Soviet aircraft, they can try now.

[APASUS]

And that the Ukrainian Armed Forces already have aviation on their account? The bombs are modern, this is understandable, but they themselves will not reach the front. There must be something very specific here to break through the front

[Zaurbek]

The gliding range is interesting. The horizontal tail is not visible.....And you need to bomb from decent heights. The Americans approached it most competently - they adapted it to the MLRS.

[BlackTiger74]

"will help the remnants of the Ukrainian Air Force increase their strike capabilities" ...........
Not the remains, but the remains!!! And then you can “build up” something only to the full-fledged, and not to the remains!!!

[BlackTiger74]

Quote: Dutchman Michel

Quote from Uncle Lee

Does the Ukrainian Armed Forces have that many delivery vehicles?

Waiting for F-16

Skakuas are ALREADY licking their lips on the F-35!!!

[Comrade Kim]

"The initial acceleration of the bomb allows you to increase the gliding range to 50-70 km or more."

70 km or more, an impressive range.

[Comrade Kim]

Quote: Zaurbek

The horizontal tail is not visible.....

Pay attention to the photo from the angle from the “keel” side.
It looks like the tail has a telescopic design.
But the article does not contain a photo from the same angle with the planes open (extended).

[Byurer]

Lately, the Mirage 2000 has begun to be mentioned more and more often on near-military Ukrainian resources.

[wladimirjankov]

The likelihood of breaking through Russian air defense and hitting the intended target is low.

If our Russian air defense freely passes primitive Nazi drones to Moscow and St. Petersburg, not to mention the regions located closer to the borders of Ukraine, then it will not be difficult for it to pass modern glide bombs with low reflection of radio waves and the absence of infrared radiation. Even the Nazis, with their far from frail air defense, cannot do anything with our similar bombs. If we also fight without ideas, without initiative and toothlessly, we will receive more and more from Bandera’s supporters and their patrons. The West looks at our reaction and if it is only verbal, then it will continue to supply ever more long-range, destructive and deadly weapons to the Nazis. Remember where its deliveries began at the beginning of the Northern Military District. From ammunition, rifles, uniforms, MANPADS, ATGMs and other small things. And what they are delivering now two years later. We are already talking about ballistic and medium-range missiles, about F-16 fighters. And our so-called Defense Ministry advisers limit themselves only to absurd statements that our army does not care about all their supplies and will thus be able to demilitarize all of NATO.

[A.Dubrovin]

“will not affect the course of hostilities” - and Russian bombs with UMPC also do not affect the course of hostilities?

[Matias_morales]

mmmm about the red lines they offer??? launch a nuclear strike on Ukraine??? bomb the bitches who send weapons??? Send powerful weapons to Mexico, Cuba, Serbia, Nicaragua, North Korea, Iran???

[Matias_morales]

Another option is to sponsor anti-Western groups in Africa and the Middle East.

[Yaroslav Tekkel]

It’s strange, France did not have the best permanent defense minister in the world, but they became concerned with such things back in the 1990s. We came to our senses and began to rivet some improvised projects in our second year.

[Yaroslav Tekkel]

It’s strange, France did not have the best permanent defense minister in the world, but they became concerned with such things back in the 1990s. We came to our senses and began to rivet some improvised projects in our second year.

[Sergey_K]

When will the "Malian" guerrillas enter the battle against the paddling pools? Question for someone...

[Dmitry Rigov]

Their foreign legion is fighting there anyway, in fact they are not even French citizens, some of them, by the way, are from Russia and the CIS countries.