Combat aircraft pilot of the Ukrainian Air Force shared footage of an airstrike on a building where russian assault groups were gathering in preparation for an offensive. The weapons used in this instance, as specified in his AIR_FIGHTER blog, were a pair of French-made AASM Hammer free-falling bombs.
Combination of timely reconnaissance and precise pre-emptive strikes allows to neutralize any attempts at seizing Ukrainian positions before the assault groups even start advancing.
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Being a precision-guided weapon, the AASM Hammer reduces collateral damage while exerting all firepower on the target, allowing to achieve significant effectiveness with a limited amount of explosive filling. The exact warhead parameters in this case cannot be determined as, technically, the name AASM Hammer refers to the kit that turns ordinary dumb bombs like Mk 82 or Mk 84 into guided munitions.
The Range Extension Kit propels the bomb forward, adding glide capability while fins steer the weapon towards the target. The effect is twofold: besides increasing the maximum operational depth of the strike, it also enables launches from safer distances from russian air defense positions.
Ukraine regularly and effectively uses these bombs against russian occupiers on the battlefield. Recently, a Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft destroyed a russian ammunition depot with AASM Hammers. This happened just as russian troops were unloading ammunition.
It was previously reported that France intends to ramp up the production of AASM HAMMER bombs for Ukraine's needs. The French Ministry of Defense expects the manufacturers to churn out 1,200 AASM Hammer long-range bombs in 2025, replenishing the domestic supply and enabling more deliveries to the Ukrainian forces as aid.
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