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Ukraine’s Favorite Smart Bomb Could Soon Hit Twice as Far With French Upgrade. Here’s What We Know

Ukraine’s Favorite Smart Bomb Could Soon Hit Twice as Far With French Upgrade. Here’s What We Know

Ukraine is actively using the French-made AASM Hammer guided bombs on the battlefield—and now a new extended-range version of the weapon may soon deliver even greater striking capability, possibly thanks to ramjet engine technology.

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Photo of Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
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French defense firm Safran unveiled its latest long-range versions of the AASM Hammer at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, running from June 16 to 22, according to Ukrainian defense outlet Defense Express on June 18.

The upgraded kits are designed for 250 kg and 1,000 kg bombs (approximately 500 and 2,000 pounds) and are marked XLR for “eXtra Long Range.”

Photos from Safran’s booth—featuring the XLR kits displayed alongside a Dassault Rafale F5 jet with conformal fuel tanks—have already surfaced online, even though Safran has yet to publish an official statement on the new system’s specifications.

Secretive, but telling clues in the design

While official range figures are still under wraps, Safran previously stated in 2023 that it was developing new propulsion options for the AASM line that could multiply the weapon’s range, potentially pushing it from its current high-altitude release range of 70+ kilometers to 150–200 kilometers.

New photos suggest the XLR variant may include a significant engine upgrade. Notably, the rear of the bomb now features what appear to be air intakes near the control surfaces—an element absent from earlier AASM versions. These intakes seem to be fitted with breakaway covers, likely designed to detach as the bomb’s tail fins deploy mid-flight.

A Safran AASM Hammer 250 XLR missile is displayed during the 55th edition of the International Paris Air Show at the Paris-Le Bourget Airport, in Le Bourget, a suburb of Paris, on June 16, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)
A Safran AASM Hammer 250 XLR missile is displayed during the 55th edition of the International Paris Air Show at the Paris-Le Bourget Airport, in Le Bourget, a suburb of Paris, on June 16, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

This detail hints at two possibilities for the bomb’s propulsion:

  1. A small turbojet engine—a more complex and space-consuming option that requires a full fuel system; or

  2. A solid-fuel ramjet, similar to the one used in the Meteor missile, which pulls in oxygen from the atmosphere. This design offers longer burn time without the need for heavy onboard oxidizers, thus maximizing efficiency within the bomb’s compact dimensions.

If Safran has opted for the ramjet route—considered the more efficient and practical solution—it would mark a major technical leap for standoff munitions. Such a system would offer significantly extended range without increasing the bomb’s external footprint.

Big implications for Ukraine

The innovation is particularly relevant for Ukraine’s Air Force, which has heavily employed AASM Hammer bombs in strikes against Russian targets.

A jump in range would allow Ukrainian pilots to launch precision-guided munitions from farther behind the front lines, enhancing both survivability and strategic reach.

“For Ukraine, this matters, as the Air Force is actively using the AASM Hammer. A range increase would be a highly positive development,” Defense Express noted.

Earlier, reports emerged that 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.

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