Ukraine's MiG‑29s and French AASM bombs reshape air tactics
Ukrainian aviation continues its attacks on Russian frontline command points. French AASM Hammer air-to-ground bombs, deployed by MiG-29 aircraft, are proving particularly effective. We explore the performance of this highly efficient combination.
Despite very limited aviation capabilities, Ukraine strives to use its resources as efficiently as possible. Currently, Ukraine has a handful of F-16 aircraft and remnants of the MiG-29 fleet, bolstered by contributions from Poland and Slovakia.
F-16s are more frequently employed in air defence missions, while MiG-29 aircraft are used as strike platforms against ground targets. Popular armaments include American GBU-39 SDB bombs and French AASM Hammer bombs, especially used for high-risk tasks due to their capabilities.
Below, you can see the moment of release and the impact of a bomb on a building, likely a Russian command point from which attacks on Ukrainian positions were orchestrated. Such points are usually located from a few up to 10 kilometres from the front lines.
AASM Hammer bomb - JDAM-ER with French traits
The French have consistently designed weapons to meet their unique military requirements, making their armaments stand out from those of other countries. The guided AASM Hammer bombs, created by the Safran company, are no exception. In addition to the standard guidance module with foldable wings for Mk 82, 83, or 84 bombs, weighing approximately 230, 450, and 910 kilograms respectively, they have added a rocket engine.
The French intended to create an attack weapon with a range exceeding 10 kilometres and powerful force for Rafale aircraft, designed to strike targets during low-altitude flights. This tactic allows aircraft with limited stealth to effectively attack heavily defended targets, even today. This is due to the so-called radar horizon, which limits the range of ground-based radars to about 40 kilometres for low-flying objects.
The AASM Hammer bomb with a rocket booster, deployed using the TOSS maneuver (where the aircraft climbs sharply just before bomb release and then descends again), allows targeting at distances up to 15 kilometres, which is beyond the reach of standard JDAM-ER and similar bombs. This enables aircraft to safely target systems like Pantsir-S1, a tactic the Ukrainians are fully exploiting.
Three guidance options — hits the target precisely in any conditions
Additionally, AASM Hammer bombs offer three guidance versions, providing substantial use flexibility. The basic version includes the INS and GPS guidance module with accuracy within a few metres, although jamming can reduce this precision. This is not problematic with a 910-kilogram bomb, but becomes an issue with a 230-kilogram one.
Two other guidance methods ensure pinpoint precision, even against moving targets. One option is a laser-guided warhead, requiring the aircraft or a cooperating drone to illuminate the target with a laser beam until impact.
The most advanced yet expensive option is an optoelectronic warhead that identifies the thermal image of the target, with the onboard system verifying if the image matches the uploaded data. If it does, the bomb independently tracks and attacks the target, allowing the aircraft's pilot to be far from the attack site by then. For this reason, it is considered a "fire and forget" bomb. These are the latest bombs in the arsenal of Ukrainian aviation.
