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Armement Air-Sol Modulaire

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Armement Air-Sol Modulaire
(Air-to-Ground Modular Weapon)
AASM Hammer family of weapons
TypeAir-to-surface missile
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service2007–present
Used byFrench Air and Space Force
French Naval Aviation
Royal Moroccan Air Force
Egyptian Air Force
Qatar Air Force
Indian Air Force
Ukrainian Air Force
WarsWar in Afghanistan
First Libyan civil war
Mali War
Operation Inherent resolve
Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
ManufacturerSafran Electronics & Defense
Unit cost€164,000 (US$210,707) (FY2011)[1]
€252,000 (US$323,770) including development costs (FY2011)[1]
Specifications (250 kg (550 lb) version)
Mass340 kg (750 lb)
Length3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Warhead250 kg (550 lb) bomb body (Mk82, BLU 111 or CBEMS/BANG)
EngineSolid rocket motor
Operational
range
Over 70 km (43 mi)[2][3][4]
Guidance
system
Hybrid inertial/GPS in decametric all-weather version
Hybrid inertial/GPS + infrared homing or SALH in metric day/night version
Accuracy10 m (32 ft 10 in) CEP decametric version
1 m (3 ft 3 in) CEP metric version
Launch
platform
Dassault Rafale
Dassault Mirage 2000D
Dassault Mirage F1
F-16
Tejas
MiG-29

The Armement Air-Sol Modulaire[5][6] (meaning Modular Air-to-Ground Armament), commonly called AASM Hammer (standing for Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range),[7] is a French, all-weather, smart air-to-surface stand-off weapon developed by Safran Electronics & Defense. Meant for both close air support and deep strike missions, the AASM is highly modular.

There are three variants of the AASM Hammer kit, with different guidance systems depending on the target and operational context. The baseline variant integrates a nose-mounted guidance section and a tail-mounted range extension kit (with winglets for movement and a rocket booster) attached to either a 125-kilogram (276 lb), 250-kilogram (550 lb), 500-kilogram (1,100 lb), 1,000-kilogram (2,200 lb) class bomb (such as the Mark 80 series general purpose bombs).[7] This variant features a hybrid inertial navigation system (INS) and a Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance system. The other variants include an additional infrared homing or laser guidance module in the nose-mounted guidance section for increased accuracy, and the ability to hit moving targets.

The AASM entered service in 2007 with the French Air Force and Naval Aviation, equipping the Dassault Rafale and Mirage 2000D.

Development

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The program started in 1997, when the Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (DGA), the French defense procurement agency, launched an international competition on the design for the weapon. In 2000, a contract was awarded to SAGEM (that became part of Safran before the end of the development)[8] for an initial lot of AASM GPS/INS bomb kits, expected at the time to be delivered in 2004 and to enter service the following year.[9]

Validation

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A test campaign to validate in flight the main performances of this AASM variant started on 6 December 2004, and ended on 26 July 2005.[10]

While demonstrating excellent results, this campaign showed the need to change some of the aerodynamic features of the weapon. To compensate for delays in AASM deliveries in 2008 France ordered dual-mode (laser- and GPS/INS-guided) GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II kits for integration with Mirage 2000D and Rafale fighter-bombers.[11] The GPS/INS + IIR guided version completed its qualification tests on 9 July 2008, after three firings at the DGA's missile test range in Biscarosse.[12] This 250 kg IR version performed a night launch from a Rafale fighter-bomber at DGA's Biscarosse test range in December 2010.

According to Safran Electronics & Defense, the weapon was launched at a range of more than 50 km from the target, which was hit within one meter.[13] A 125 kg version was successfully test fired on 27 January 2009,[14] and a laser guided variant was air-launched for the first time on 17 June 2010.[15]

The 1000 kg version commenced testing in 2020, with inert separation trials from a Rafale.[16][17] Qualification firings finished in early 2023 and a delivery of the first kits started the same year.[18]

Cost

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According to French Senate's Comité des Prix de Revient des fabrications d'Armement (CPRA) cited by the daily La Tribune, the total cost of the AASM program including development costs and the delivery of 2348 kits is €846m.[19] On that basis the per-weapon cost is $300,000 or twelve times the cost of the comparable American JDAM, although the latter has been manufactured in much larger quantities (~250,000 kits) and would be reasonable to expect a slight reduction of the cost ratio if larger contracts are signed and economies of scale are achieved.[20]

The 2012 defence budget presented to the Senate reported the project had cost €592.2m (~US$800m) with a unit cost of €164,000, or €252,000 including development costs.[1]

In 2017 La Tribune reported a unit cost of €120,000 for a new version called AASM Evolution (Block IV) with the aim by Safran to lower it to €80,000.[21]

Variants

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AASM comes in several variants according to its size and the type of guidance used.

In October 2010, these versions were given alphanumeric designations with the INS/GPS version becoming the SBU-38 (SBU=Smart Bomb Unit), the INS/GPS/IIR version becoming the SBU-54 and the INS/GPS/SALH version becoming the SBU-64; the system as a whole was renamed Hammer to make it more appealing to export customers.[24]

Operational use

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The first order for AASM was placed by the DGA in 2000 for a total of 744 units; deliveries started in 2007 after a two-year delay in development.[25] In 2009 a second order for 680 units was placed, by the end of that year deliveries had reached 334.[26]

Afghanistan

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AASM made its combat debut on 20 April 2008, during the War in Afghanistan when a Rafale fighter dropped two in support of ground troops.[27]

Libya

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On 24 March 2011, it was reported that an AASM bomb dropped from a Dassault Rafale was used to destroy a Libyan Air Force G-2 Galeb light ground attack/trainer jet, the first Libyan warplane to challenge the no-fly zone during the 2011 Libyan civil war, on the runway just after the plane had landed at Misrata Airport.[28] On 6 April 2011, it was reported that a AASM bomb dropped from a Dassault Rafale was used to destroy a Libyan tank at a range of 55 km.[29] In Libya, 225 AASM bombs have been dropped [30]

"Also referred to as the Hammer, the AASM weapon has impressed during the campaign to date. Incorporating a precision guidance kit and propulsion system, the design will eventually be available for use with standard bombs weighing between 125 kg and 1 000 kg, although a 250 kg version is the only one currently in service. Sagem cites a range capability of more than 32nm from high altitude, or 8nm from low level. Launches can also be made from an off-axis angle of up to 90°, while up to six weapons can be fired against individual targets in a single pass and with just one trigger press." And "Libya represents the first opportunity for the French Air and Space to employ the Thales Damocles targeting pod, although the Navy gave the system its combat debut over Afghanistan in late 2010."[31]

India

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According to a report by Hindustan Times, India placed an order for "large numbers" of the Hammer in September 2020 and deliveries will be completed by the end of November 2020. The reports adds that the French Air and Space Force will transfer some of its supplies of Hammer to India to ensure immediate deliveries.[32] India has started the process of integrating Hammer missile to its indigenous fighter Tejas.[33]

Ukraine

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On 16 January 2024, French president Emmanuel Macron announced France would be providing several hundred AASM Hammer precision-guided weapons to Ukraine, at a rate of 50 units per month in 2024.[34][35][36][37] The first reported use of the AASM by Ukraine took place on 5 March 2024.[38]

Operators

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Map with AASM operators in blue

Current operators

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See also

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  • Bombe Guidée Laser – French guided bomb
  • LT PGB – Chinese precision-guided bomb
  • LS PGB – Chinese precision bombs
  • JDAM – American GPS bomb guidance kit
  • Paveway IV – American precision-guided bomb
  • HGK (bomb) – Turkish precision-guided bomb kit
  • Spice – Israeli precision-guided bomb kit
  • Denel Dynamics Umbani – South African precision-guided bomb kit

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Projet de loi de finances pour 2013 : Défense : équipement des forces" (in French). Senate of France. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  2. ^ "AASM". Safran Electronics & Defense. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  3. ^ "The French president said France would send Ukraine 40 long-range SCALP air-to-ground missiles and 'several hundred bombs". Le Monde. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  4. ^ "À quoi servent les missiles Scalp livrés par la France à l'Ukraine ?". Le Point. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  5. ^ "AASM". Aerospace. Safran Electronics & Defense. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) Hammer Air-to-Ground Missile". Airforce technology. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  7. ^ a b "AASM Hammer Family - Smart tactical air-to-surface weapon family" (PDF). Safran group. 14 October 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Safran Timeline". Safran. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  9. ^ Nick Cook, "Europe sees technology as key: requirements in Europe are currently centred on the RAF's Precision Guided Bomb programme". Interavia Business & Technology. April 2002. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  10. ^ Gilles Bessero, "Missile launching tests: main stakes for DGA/SPNuM Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine". Ixarm Archived 24 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  11. ^ "French Adding GPS to Paveway-II Bombs". Defense Industry Daily. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  12. ^ Sagem Défense Sécurité, Infrared terminal guidance version of AASM successfully completes final qualification firing test Archived 12 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  13. ^ Philippe Wodka-Gallien (14 December 2010). "First night time launch of Sagem's AASM guided weapon with infrared terminal guidance". Sagem. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  14. ^ Sagem Défense Sécurité, Successful first firing test of the Sagem AASM 125 air-to-ground weapon Archived 30 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  15. ^ Sagem Défense Sécurité, First launch of Sagem AASM missile with terminal laser guidance a success Archived 27 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  16. ^ "AASM Hammer separations tests success". Safran Electronics & Defense.
  17. ^ Allport, David (February 2021). "France conducts 1,000kg Hammer tests". Air International. Vol. 100, no. 2. p. 21. ISSN 0306-5634.
  18. ^ a b Dubois, Gastón (27 January 2023). "AASM 1000: the guided heavy bomb homologated for the Rafale F4". Aviacionline. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  19. ^ (in French) Dominique Merchet, "Une bombe française à 360.000 euros pièce - Sagem conteste" Archived 24 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Libération. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  20. ^ Magazine, Skies. "Rafale and F-35". Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  21. ^ Michel Cabirol (17 January 2017). "AASM Evolution, la nouvelle bombe low cost de Safran". La Tribune (in French).
  22. ^ "France’s AASM Precision-Guided Bombs". Defense Industry Daily. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  23. ^ "France qualifies laser-guided bomb system". Upi.com. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  24. ^ Robert Wall, "Call it 'Hammer'"[permanent dead link]. Ares. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  25. ^ (in French) Sénat of France, Projet de loi de finances pour 2008: Défense - Equipement des forces. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  26. ^ (in French) Sénat of France, Projet de loi de finances pour 2010: Défense - Equipement des forces. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  27. ^ Christina Mackenzie, "Rafale Fires First AASM"[permanent dead link]. Ares. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  28. ^ "Libya live (16:22)". The Telegraph. 24 March 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  29. ^ "Mariane-Jean-Dominique Merchet". The Mariane (blog). 4 April 2011. Archived from the original on 16 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  30. ^ 12 October 2011 France Spent Over 1,000 Bombs and Missiles in the 7 Month Libyan Campaign, Defense update Archived 13 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ Flightglobal, 14 June 2011 France's Rafale fighter proves its 'omnirole' skills
  32. ^ a b "Indian Rafale fighter jet adds Hammer stand-off weapon to its lethal arsenal". Hindustan Times. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  33. ^ "IAF boosts LCA Tejas capabilities with French Hammer missiles under emergency powers". ANI. 16 November 2021.
  34. ^ Ukraine conflict: France to send AASM guided bombs and more SCALP EG missiles, Germany refuses Taurus. Janes. 18 January 2024.
  35. ^ France is preparing 40 SCALP EG missiles for Ukraine. Militarnyi. 17 January 2024.
  36. ^ France will transfer 50 “missiles” to Ukraine every month. Militarnyi. 18 January 2024.
  37. ^ France Will Deliver Up to 50 Aerial Bombs to Ukraine Every Month. Defense Express. 20 January 2024.
  38. ^ "Ukraine : première utilisation d'une bombe AASM Hammer livrée par la France". Air et Cosmos (in French). 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  39. ^ "Sagem wins export contract for AASM Hammer missiles on Egypt's Rafales". Sagem. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  40. ^ "Sagem AASM precision-guided air-to-ground munition goes laser". Dutch defence press. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  41. ^ "Air Recognition". Archived from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
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