AASM Hammer.

The AASM Hammer was developed to address the growing need for modular, precise, and all-weather capable air-to-ground munitions. Entering service with the French Air Force and Naval Aviation in 2007, the Hammer offers flexibility in its design, enabling it to be used with a variety of bomb sizes, including 125 kg, 250 kg, 500 kg, and 1000 kg configurations. The system’s modularity allows for different guidance and propulsion systems to be attached to the bombs, giving the munition extended range and enhanced accuracy.

There are three main variants of the AASM Hammer, each equipped with different guidance systems depending on the operational context. The baseline variant integrates a hybrid inertial navigation system (INS) combined with GPS guidance, allowing it to function in all weather conditions. Other variants incorporate either infrared homing or laser guidance in the nose-mounted guidance section, providing increased precision and the ability to engage moving targets. These options make the Hammer effective for both close air support missions and deep strikes, where it can be launched from a stand-off distance, allowing the aircraft to remain safely out of reach of enemy defenses.

The AASM Hammer has proven its effectiveness in combat. It is deployed primarily from the Dassault Rafale and Mirage 2000D aircraft, but its versatility has led to its integration into other platforms as well, such as the Dassault Mirage F1, F-16, Tejas, and MiG-29. Recently, the system has been supplied to Ukraine, with over 600 Hammer bomb kits planned for delivery at a rate of 50 kits per month. It is likely that Ukrainian aircraft such as the MiG-29 and Su-27—already configured to drop JDAM-ER munitions—will be capable of employing the Hammer in combat.

Host Bombs

The AASM system enhances conventional dumb bombs by integrating guidance kits and a solid fuel rocket motor. The standard AASM configuration is currently based on a 250 kg bomb, which is compatible with widely used bomb bodies such as the Mk 82, the BLU-111 penetrator, and the French CBEMS/BANG. A 125 kg bomb variant was successfully tested in 2009, and a 1,000 kg model has been proposed for future development to extend the system's versatility across a broader range of mission profiles.

Guidance Options

- SBU-38: The original model of the AASM, the SBU-38, is equipped with an inertial navigation system (INS) and GPS guidance, providing a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 10 meters. This variant was introduced into service in 2007 and is effective in all-weather conditions, delivering reliable accuracy in both close air support and deep strike missions.
- SBU-54: The SBU-54 variant adds imaging infrared homing to the baseline SBU-38 model. This feature allows the munition to match the target area with a reference image stored in memory, increasing accuracy to a 1-meter CEP. The SBU-54 can operate both during the day and at night but achieves its highest accuracy in fair weather conditions.
- SBU-64: Introduced in 2013, the SBU-64 incorporates laser guidance on top of the existing INS/GPS capabilities found in the SBU-38. This variant allows for improved precision and, unlike the SBU-54, is effective against moving targets. The SBU-64 provides greater flexibility in dynamic combat scenarios, offering high accuracy across a range of environments and mission types.