AASM Hammer Guided Bomb
WesternArmement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) Hammer
The AASM Hammer is a French modular air-to-ground precision weapon that bolts a guidance kit and a rocket booster onto a standard bomb body, turning it into a powered, GPS/INS-guided glide munition. France began supplying Hammer kits to Ukraine in 2024 for use on Soviet-era jets and later F-16s, giving Ukraine a standoff strike weapon to counter Russian glide bombs.
Primary Role
Standoff precision strikes against fortifications, logistics, and frontline positions
First documented use in Ukraine: 2024-03
Specifications
| Range | ~15 km (low) to 70+ km (high-altitude release) |
| Bomb bodies | 125, 250, 500, 1,000 kg classes |
| Guidance | INS/GPS, with IR or laser terminal options |
| Propulsion | Solid rocket booster + glide kit |
| Accuracy | Metric-class CEP |
| Country | France |
✓ Strengths
- •Powered glide kit gives meaningful standoff range
- •Modular — fits multiple bomb sizes and aircraft types
- •Precise INS/GPS guidance with terminal-seeker options
- •Lets non-Western jets deliver Western precision effects
⚠ Limitations
- •Range and accuracy degraded by heavy GPS jamming
- •Dependent on French production and delivery rate
- •Requires aircraft to approach within booster range of dense air defenses
Notable Use
France pledged to deliver hundreds of AASM Hammer kits per month to Ukraine in 2024, helping Ukrainian aircraft strike Russian positions from a safer standoff distance. Its rocket booster extends range well beyond an unpowered glide bomb, partially answering Russia's heavy use of UMPK glide bombs.
Ukraine War Context
Ukraine integrated AASM Hammer onto Soviet-design fighters and later its F-16 fleet, using the weapon to hit bridges, command nodes, and entrenched positions. The modular kit lets Ukraine convert various bomb bodies into precision munitions, easing supply constraints.