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France Adapted AASM Hammer Bombs for Ukraine’s Soviet-Era Jets in Record Time
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
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France has successfully adapted its AASM Hammer guided bomb kits for use on Ukrainian MiG-29 and Su-25 aircraft in under four months, marking a significant step in Western efforts to modernize Ukraine’s Soviet-era air fleet.
According to the French outlet L’Usine Nouvelle on April 30, the defense company Safran completed the modifications in record time to ensure compatibility with Ukraine’s frontline aircraft.
The adaptation allowed France to begin delivering AASM kits to Ukraine in 2023, with several hundred units reportedly supplied since then.
The AASM Hammer is a modular guidance kit that converts standard unguided bombs into precision air-to-ground weapons. Comparable to the US-made JDAM, it includes GPS, inertial, and optional infrared or laser guidance modules.
There are two main variants: the Hammer-250, designed for 227 kg Mk.82 bombs, and the Hammer-1000, suited for the heavier 908 kg Mk.84. Trials of the Hammer-1000 variant were scheduled to conclude by late 2024.
Safran’s facility in Montluçon, France, has significantly increased output in response to demand. In 2024, the factory produced 830 AASM kits—four times the volume manufactured in 2022. The company plans to further double production in the coming years, depending on orders.
Approximately 50 employees currently work on assembling and testing the systems, which are also used on French Rafale fighters.
To improve efficiency and reduce errors, Safran has incorporated augmented reality tools into the assembly line at Montluçon. Since 2022, the company has invested €25 million into scaling up production of the AASM system.
Earlier on April 27, Ukrainian tactical aircraft used French-made AASM HAMMER bombs in a series of precision airstrikes in occupied Zaporizhzhia, destroying a Russian artillery position, a special forces staging area, and an ammunition depot, according to footage released by the Southern Defense Forces.
