France boosts Safran’s AASM Hammer precision-guided bomb production after Ukraine’s operational successes
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On July 3, 2025, France’s Ministry of Armed Forces announced a decisive ramp-up in the production of AASM Hammer bombs, aiming to raise strategic stakes following their proven impact on the battlefield in Ukraine. Responding to surging demand and demonstrated combat effectiveness, the ministry is investing €128 million to expand output of these precision-guided munitions. This acceleration comes as Ukrainian forces continue to showcase the bombs’ performance against Russian positions, validating years of development work. The move highlights France’s determination to reinforce its defence industrial base under the 2024–2030 Military Programming Law. This was reported by the French Ministry of Armed Forces as published on its official website.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Operationally, the AASM Hammer has been combat-proven across various theatres, including Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Syria, and more recently Ukraine (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)
The AASM “Hammer” is a family of precision-guided air-to-ground munitions developed and produced primarily by Safran Electronics & Defense, with key industrial partners such as SAMP for bomb bodies and Eurenco for explosive filling. This modular weapon system was conceived to provide the French Air Force and Navy with a highly flexible strike capability, equipping platforms such as the Rafale and Mirage 2000D with precision effects in all weather and terrain conditions.
The AASM stands out for its modularity and advanced guidance suite. The standard kit transforms conventional Mk.82, Mk.83, or Mk.84 general-purpose bombs into smart stand-off weapons by adding a range extension kit and multi-mode guidance. Operators can select between GPS/INS-only guidance, GPS/INS combined with semi-active laser homing for moving targets, or GPS/INS coupled with an infrared seeker for high-value, heat-emitting targets. This versatility gives crews a tactical edge against diverse threats, especially in scenarios requiring reduced collateral damage or engagements against relocatable assets.
To increase operational reach, the Hammer family includes a rocket booster variant that extends the range up to 80 kilometres, allowing aircraft to launch strikes from outside many short-range air defence envelopes. The most advanced version, the AASM Hammer XLR, integrates a micro-turbojet engine that propels the munition beyond 150 kilometres, giving French and allied forces a true deep-strike option without needing dedicated cruise missiles. This unique propulsion feature clearly differentiates the Hammer from comparable U.S. JDAM kits, which generally lack an integral stand-off booster or jet propulsion.
Operationally, the AASM Hammer has been combat-proven across various theatres, including Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Syria, and more recently Ukraine. In June 2025, Ukrainian fighter crews reportedly used the standard GPS/INS variant to strike Russian ammunition depots and logistics hubs from medium and low altitudes, illustrating the system’s ability to maintain precision even in degraded GPS environments or when launched in pop-up attack profiles. These combat validations have reinforced European interest in domestically produced, exportable precision-guided weapons that reduce reliance on U.S. or Israeli solutions, especially amid tightening global supply chains and the elevated risk of stockpile depletion during prolonged conflicts.
The industrial effort behind the Hammer highlights France’s commitment to sustaining a sovereign supply chain for critical munitions. Safran’s capacity expansion, which enabled the company to exceed its 2024 delivery targets by nearly 40%, underlines this point. Supported by an additional €128 million allocation, Hammer production is on track to surpass 1,200 units in 2025 alone, benefiting from streamlined funding under France’s Military Programming Law. This ramp-up comes amid Paris’s broader €4 billion mid-year defence spending boost, covering not only air-launched munitions but also new orders for submarines, Rafale fighters, Scorpion armoured vehicles, and surface-to-air missile systems.
France’s emphasis on the Hammer program dovetails with the Ministry of the Armed Forces’ wider strategy to bolster deterrence in the face of rising tensions with Russia. As noted by Army Recognition, the Hammer’s modular design enables cost-effective upgrades, allowing French industry to continuously adapt the system with new seekers or propulsion units. This adaptability makes it a cornerstone of the nation’s precision-strike doctrine for high-intensity operations, where aircraft must deliver accurate effects while minimising exposure to modern air defences.
The AASM Hammer is now positioned as far more than a niche capability. It symbolises the resilience of Europe’s defence technological base at a time when NATO’s precision strike inventories are under pressure from sustained aid to Ukraine. By scaling up production, France reinforces its message that maintaining strategic autonomy in guided munitions is not just a matter of national security but a key pillar of Europe’s collective deterrence posture. As battlefield lessons continue to emerge from the Ukrainian frontlines, the Hammer’s combat record is likely to shape future procurement priorities and drive further innovation within Europe’s precision weapons sector.
In a fast-changing security environment, the AASM Hammer demonstrates how modular, scalable systems can ensure readiness for tomorrow’s high-intensity conflicts, delivering operational flexibility, industrial resilience, and strategic depth in one sovereign package.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On July 3, 2025, France’s Ministry of Armed Forces announced a decisive ramp-up in the production of AASM Hammer bombs, aiming to raise strategic stakes following their proven impact on the battlefield in Ukraine. Responding to surging demand and demonstrated combat effectiveness, the ministry is investing €128 million to expand output of these precision-guided munitions. This acceleration comes as Ukrainian forces continue to showcase the bombs’ performance against Russian positions, validating years of development work. The move highlights France’s determination to reinforce its defence industrial base under the 2024–2030 Military Programming Law. This was reported by the French Ministry of Armed Forces as published on its official website.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Operationally, the AASM Hammer has been combat-proven across various theatres, including Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Syria, and more recently Ukraine (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)
The AASM “Hammer” is a family of precision-guided air-to-ground munitions developed and produced primarily by Safran Electronics & Defense, with key industrial partners such as SAMP for bomb bodies and Eurenco for explosive filling. This modular weapon system was conceived to provide the French Air Force and Navy with a highly flexible strike capability, equipping platforms such as the Rafale and Mirage 2000D with precision effects in all weather and terrain conditions.
The AASM stands out for its modularity and advanced guidance suite. The standard kit transforms conventional Mk.82, Mk.83, or Mk.84 general-purpose bombs into smart stand-off weapons by adding a range extension kit and multi-mode guidance. Operators can select between GPS/INS-only guidance, GPS/INS combined with semi-active laser homing for moving targets, or GPS/INS coupled with an infrared seeker for high-value, heat-emitting targets. This versatility gives crews a tactical edge against diverse threats, especially in scenarios requiring reduced collateral damage or engagements against relocatable assets.
To increase operational reach, the Hammer family includes a rocket booster variant that extends the range up to 80 kilometres, allowing aircraft to launch strikes from outside many short-range air defence envelopes. The most advanced version, the AASM Hammer XLR, integrates a micro-turbojet engine that propels the munition beyond 150 kilometres, giving French and allied forces a true deep-strike option without needing dedicated cruise missiles. This unique propulsion feature clearly differentiates the Hammer from comparable U.S. JDAM kits, which generally lack an integral stand-off booster or jet propulsion.
Operationally, the AASM Hammer has been combat-proven across various theatres, including Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Syria, and more recently Ukraine. In June 2025, Ukrainian fighter crews reportedly used the standard GPS/INS variant to strike Russian ammunition depots and logistics hubs from medium and low altitudes, illustrating the system’s ability to maintain precision even in degraded GPS environments or when launched in pop-up attack profiles. These combat validations have reinforced European interest in domestically produced, exportable precision-guided weapons that reduce reliance on U.S. or Israeli solutions, especially amid tightening global supply chains and the elevated risk of stockpile depletion during prolonged conflicts.
The industrial effort behind the Hammer highlights France’s commitment to sustaining a sovereign supply chain for critical munitions. Safran’s capacity expansion, which enabled the company to exceed its 2024 delivery targets by nearly 40%, underlines this point. Supported by an additional €128 million allocation, Hammer production is on track to surpass 1,200 units in 2025 alone, benefiting from streamlined funding under France’s Military Programming Law. This ramp-up comes amid Paris’s broader €4 billion mid-year defence spending boost, covering not only air-launched munitions but also new orders for submarines, Rafale fighters, Scorpion armoured vehicles, and surface-to-air missile systems.
France’s emphasis on the Hammer program dovetails with the Ministry of the Armed Forces’ wider strategy to bolster deterrence in the face of rising tensions with Russia. As noted by Army Recognition, the Hammer’s modular design enables cost-effective upgrades, allowing French industry to continuously adapt the system with new seekers or propulsion units. This adaptability makes it a cornerstone of the nation’s precision-strike doctrine for high-intensity operations, where aircraft must deliver accurate effects while minimising exposure to modern air defences.
The AASM Hammer is now positioned as far more than a niche capability. It symbolises the resilience of Europe’s defence technological base at a time when NATO’s precision strike inventories are under pressure from sustained aid to Ukraine. By scaling up production, France reinforces its message that maintaining strategic autonomy in guided munitions is not just a matter of national security but a key pillar of Europe’s collective deterrence posture. As battlefield lessons continue to emerge from the Ukrainian frontlines, the Hammer’s combat record is likely to shape future procurement priorities and drive further innovation within Europe’s precision weapons sector.
In a fast-changing security environment, the AASM Hammer demonstrates how modular, scalable systems can ensure readiness for tomorrow’s high-intensity conflicts, delivering operational flexibility, industrial resilience, and strategic depth in one sovereign package.
