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French AASM Bombs Strike Russian Targets in Ukraine, Prompting Production Surge
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
France is accelerating the production of its AASM precision-guided bombs, citing their battlefield performance in Ukraine, according to a statement published by the French Ministry of Defense on July 3.
The ministry confirmed that a new agreement with Safran, the primary developer of the AASM guidance kits for US-origin Mk.80-series general-purpose bombs, will be signed by the end of July. The contract includes an investment of approximately $150 million aimed at increasing manufacturing capacity.
Safran exceeded its 2024 production target by nearly 40%, delivering 830 guidance kits instead of the planned 600. For 2025, the initial production target was set at 1,200 units, though that figure may rise due to additional funding and sustained demand.
While Safran is responsible for the development of the guidance modules, bomb casings are produced by SAMP, and the explosive filling is handled by Eurenco.
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The AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire), also known as the “Hammer,” features a modular design and is available in three variants with different guidance configurations:
GPS only;
GPS combined with a semi-active laser seeker;
GPS combined with an infrared imaging system.
To increase its operational range, the bomb is equipped with a rocket booster in the tail section. Standard AASM variants can strike targets up to 80 kilometers away when launched from high altitude.
From lower altitudes, the effective range is approximately 20–25 kilometers, allowing the launch platform to remain at a safer distance from enemy defenses.
Safran has also introduced an extended-range version of the system — the AASM Hammer XLR 250 — featuring a turbojet engine. This enhancement has reportedly increased the strike range to 150–200 kilometers under optimal launch conditions.
According to Ukrainian defense sources, the AASM system has demonstrated operational success during recent missions. In early June 2025, Ukrainian tactical aviation units reportedly employed AASM-guided bombs to strike a Russian ammunition depot and infantry concentration in the southern theater.
The decision by the French government to scale up production reflects ongoing European efforts to support Ukraine and maintain domestic defense readiness through the sustained manufacturing of high-precision munitions.
Earlier in June, Ukraine unveiled its own domestically developed glide bomb system—nicknamed the Ukrainian “KAB”—designed to convert standard 500 kg bombs into long-range precision weapons. Modeled after Russia’s UMPK, the system has already achieved test ranges of up to 60 kilometers, with plans to extend that to 80.
Developed by the design bureau Medoid, the kit features Ukrainian-built navigation and wing modules and is seen as a cost-effective alternative to Western systems like JDAM-ER and AASM.
