Ukraine strikes hard: French AASM bombs reshape air tactics
The remnants of the Ukrainian air force are conducting operations against the Russians using advanced Western armaments. One of the most useful tools for Ukraine is the French AASM Hammer air bomb. Here, we unveil its secret.
AASM Hammer bombs are most often dropped from MiG-29 aircraft, though they are also occasionally deployed on Su-27 and Su-25 aircraft. Below, you can observe a moment when an AASM Hammer bomb is dropped, along with the effects of the attack on a Russian command post in the village of Lubymivka in the Kherson region.
MiG-29 aircraft and French AASM Hammer bombs — A deadly combination
Currently, Ukrainians possess a handful of newly acquired F-16 aircraft alongside remnants of the MiG-29 fleet, significantly reinforced with models donated by Poland and Slovakia. Consequently, these aircraft are most frequently used for combat missions.
The Ukrainians preferably utilize American GBU-39 SDB bombs or the French AASM Hammer bombs. Conceptually, these are glide bombs quite similar to the American JDAM-ER but include unique French enhancements.
In addition to a GPS guidance module with a new tail section and foldable wings added to the standard Mk 82/83/84 bombs weighing approximately 500, 1000, and 2000 pounds, a rocket booster is also included. This allows the AASM Hammer bomb to be effectively used during low-altitude flights, a capability absent in JDAMs and similar solutions.
Ordinarily, a glide bomb dropped in such conditions would have a range of only a few miles. However, the French solution boasts a range of about 10 miles, enabling aircraft to attack targets protected by systems like the Pantsir-S1 from beyond their range.
This is a major advantage since the proclaimed range of over 40 miles for JDAM-ER glide bombs is attainable only when dropped from altitudes above 6 miles. At such heights, aircraft become clearly visible to the radar of air defense systems such as the S-300/400. The only viable defense is flying at a low altitude due to the so-called radar horizon, which limits ground radar detection to about 25 miles.
Pinpoint precision in all conditions — A wide variety of guidance methods
The French bombs allow for accuracy up to 3 feet, making them effective even against moving targets. Unique guidance methods, unavailable to many foreign competitors, contribute to this precision.
The foundational guidance module is based on inertial and satellite navigation, which targets only stationary objects. This is the most affordable option but is sensitive to precision degradation due to electronic warfare systems. Notably, for example, a deviation of even several dozen feet for a 2000-pound variant is less problematic compared to smaller calibers.
Two other options, however, remain unaffected by jammers. The first involves classic bomb homing on a reflected laser beam, but it requires the target to be continually illuminated with the beam from an aircraft or, for example, a drone until impact, even when targeting a moving object.
The optimal but most expensive option is the second guidance method, which uses an optoelectronic head to detect the thermal image of the target. The head autonomously seeks an object matching the preloaded data and then engages. This "fire and forget" method allows the pilot to leave the dangerous area immediately after releasing the bomb. These French bombs are unique in the Ukrainian air force arsenal and have repeatedly demonstrated their effectiveness.
