Ukrainian forces deploy new French glide bomb against Russian post

Although the Kherson segment of the front is relatively calm, the hunt for valuable targets continues. One such target was a Russian observation post hidden in a building above the Dnipro River. The Ukrainians decided to drop an AASM Hammer glide bomb from a MiG-29 aircraft on this facility. Let's delve into the unique qualities of these bombs compared to other solutions.

Glide bombs are reserved for critical targets, particularly for the Ukrainians, who have a very limited number of operational aircraft. Apparently, the Russian observation post on the opposite bank of the Dnipro near Nova Kakhovka fell into this category.

Using a bomb weighing at least 250 kilograms has many advantages compared to an artillery shell. Firstly, such an aerial bomb contains over 100 kilograms of TNT, compared to a maximum of 9-10 kilograms for a 155 mm shell. Its high kinetic energy allows it to penetrate earthworks or thick walls more easily. As seen clearly in the video below, there is practically nothing left to collect at the point of impact.

The Ukrainians received a number of AASM Hammer bombs (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire, Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) from France. These bombs are most often used on MiG-29 aircraft, though they have also been spotted on Su-25 aircraft. Conceptually, AASM Hammer bombs are modules similar to JDAM-ER that are mounted on classic unguided bombs but feature several exceptionally unique attributes.

The first distinction is the use of a rocket booster in addition to deployable wings, which accelerates the bomb at launch, increasing its kinetic energy. This affects the range when dropped from high altitudes, where the AASM Hammer can target objectives over 70 kilometres away. However, this capability is especially significant during low-altitude drops.

Classic glide bombs would fall within a few kilometres in such conditions, whereas the AASM Hammer with a rocket booster can destroy targets located 15 kilometres from the release point. This range exceeds that of, for example, the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft systems.

The second important feature is the interchangeable guidance heads, which can be adapted to battlefield conditions. The basic module includes inertial and satellite navigation guidance, allowing for the attack of stationary targets. It is an inexpensive solution but susceptible to electronic warfare systems that reduce hit precision, as demonstrated by the Russians.

Meanwhile, the other two options are more expensive or harder to implement but ensure precision hits within a metre under all conditions, even against a moving target. The first is a laser-guided head that requires the target to be illuminated by a beam from the aircraft or, for instance, a drone until impact.

More intriguing, however, is the second "fire-and-forget" solution based on an optoelectronic head that detects the thermal image of the target and autonomously follows the designated object based on uploaded algorithms. This allows for the highest chance of eliminating the target with minimal risk of the aircraft being shot down. However, the downside of this version is its high cost.