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France to Supply 1,200 Jamming-Resistant AASM Hammer Bombs for Ukraine’s Soviet-Era Jets
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
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France plans to manufacture 1,200 AASM Hammer guided air-to-ground bombs for Ukraine this year, significantly increasing production compared to the 830 units delivered in 2024, according to Le Parisien on May 2.
Developed by the French defense technology group Safran Electronics and Defense, the AASM Hammer is a modular precision-guided munition consisting of two key components: a guidance system mounted at the front of the bomb and a propulsion unit at the rear.
These modules are integrated with standard aerial bombs to enhance accuracy and range.
Safran officials stated that since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, France has quadrupled production of the AASM system. Deliveries to Ukraine are expected to reach a rate of approximately 50 units per month throughout 2025.
The AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire) Hammer system is designed to maintain high precision even in contested electronic environments. It combines inertial navigation with GPS guidance and features capabilities that counter jamming—a key concern for Ukrainian forces operating in areas with strong Russian electronic warfare activity.
According to Safran representatives, the weapon’s inertial navigation system uses physical gyroscopic principles to calculate the bomb’s orientation and speed, enabling precise targeting even in the absence of satellite signals. This feature was cited as a major advantage over US-made JDAM kits, which have faced difficulties in GPS-denied conditions.
The AASM Hammer has a range of up to 70 km, depending on launch altitude, and can carry warheads weighing between 250 and 1,000 kilograms. The system was originally developed for France’s Rafale multirole fighter jets but has since been adapted for use on other platforms, including Ukraine’s Soviet-era MiG and Su-series aircraft. Safran confirmed that integration onto Ukrainian fighters was completed in under four months during the fall of 2023.
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu previously noted that adapting the bombs for Ukraine’s existing fleet was a priority, particularly after performance issues with earlier Western-supplied munitions. The AASM’s compatibility with Ukraine’s legacy aircraft, combined with its resistance to signal jamming, has made it a critical asset in precision strike operations.
The French Ministry of Defense has described the AASM as a key component in Ukraine’s airstrike capabilities, capable of delivering accurate strikes on both stationary and mobile targets. Originally adopted by the French military in 2008, the weapon system has since become a staple in France’s air-to-ground arsenal.
Earlier, France adapted its AASM Hammer bombs for Ukraine’s Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-25 jets in under four months, enabling rapid deployment of precision-guided munitions to the Ukrainian Air Force.
-a80eca3386f843ec2c53278e18ae1131.jpg "Rare Footage Shows Ukrainian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Unit Launching Multiple Chaklun-V UAVs at Night, Video")
