Ukrainian forces strike key Russian post with French glide bomb
Despite the relatively calm Kherson front, the hunt for valuable targets continues. One such target was a Russian observation post hidden in a building above the Dnipro River. The Ukrainians decided to drop an AASM Hammer glide bomb from a MiG-29 aircraft on this post. We explain the uniqueness of these bombs compared to other options.
8:42 PM EDT, August 21, 2024
The use of glide bombs is reserved for important targets, especially Ukrainians, who have a very limited number of operational aircraft. Apparently, the Russian observation post near Nova Kakhovka was classified as a significant target.
Using a bomb weighing at least 550 lbs has many advantages over an artillery shell. First, such an aerial bomb contains over 220 lbs of TNT, compared to a maximum of 20-22 lbs for a 155 mm shell, and has high kinetic energy, allowing it to penetrate earthworks or thick walls more easily. As a result, there is often nothing left to collect at the point of impact, as can be clearly seen in the video below.
AASM Hammer — A glide bomb from France adapted for use in any conditions
The Ukrainians received several AASM Hammer bombs (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire, Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) from France. These bombs are most often used on MiG-29 aircraft, although they have also been carried by Su-25 aircraft. Conceptually, AASM Hammer bombs are modules similar to JDAM-ER, mounted on classic unguided bombs but with several unique features.
The first difference is the use of a rocket booster, in addition to deployable wings, which accelerates the bomb at launch and increases its kinetic energy. This significantly affects the range when dropped from a high altitude, allowing the AASM Hammer to target objectives over a distance of more than 44 miles, but the greatest significance is during low-altitude drops.
Classic glide bombs would fall after a few miles in such conditions, while the AASM Hammer with a rocket booster allows for the destruction of targets at a distance of 9 miles from the release point. This range is greater than that of, for example, the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft systems.
The second important feature is the interchangeable guidance heads, which can be adapted to battlefield conditions. The basic module includes inertial and satellite navigation guidance, allowing for the attack of stationary targets. This is an inexpensive solution but susceptible to electronic warfare systems that reduce hit precision, as demonstrated by the Russians.
Meanwhile, the other two options are more expensive or harder to implement but ensure hit precision within a meter under all conditions, even against a moving target. The first is a laser-guided head that requires the target to be illuminated by a beam from the aircraft or, for instance, a drone until the moment of impact.
The most interesting, however, is the second "fire-and-forget" solution based on an optoelectronic head that sees the thermal image of the target and autonomously follows the designated object based on uploaded algorithms. This offers the maximum chance of eliminating the target with minimal exposure of the aircraft to being shot down, but the drawback of this version is its high cost.
