Английская Википедия:Armement Air-Sol Modulaire

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Шаблон:Infobox weapon

The Armement Air-Sol Modulaire[1][2] (Modular Air-to-Ground Armament), commonly called AASM or HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range), is a French, all-weather, smart air-to-surface stand off weapon developed by Safran Electronics & Defense. Meant for both close air support and deep strike missions, the AASM is highly modular.

The baseline variant integrates a nose-mounted guidance section and a tail-mounted range extension kit (which consists of a rocket booster) attached to a Шаблон:Convert unguided bomb. This variant feature a hybrid inertial navigation system (INS) / Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance. Other variants incorporate either infrared homing or laser guidance in addition to the INS/GPS one for increased accuracy. The AASM thus offers three different types of guidance options depending on the target and operational context. The kits have further been developed for use with Шаблон:Convert, Шаблон:Convert and Шаблон:Convert class bombs.

The AASM entered service in 2007 with the French Air Force and Naval Aviation, equipping the Dassault Rafale and Mirage 2000D.

Development

The program started in 1997, when the Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (DGA), the French defense procurement agency, launched an international competition on the design for the weapon. In 2000, a contract was awarded to SAGEM (that became part of Safran before the end of the development)[3] for an initial lot of AASM GPS/INS bomb kits, expected at the time to be delivered from 2004 and to enter service the following year.[4]

Validation

A test campaign to validate in flight the main performances of this AASM variant started on December 6, 2004, and ended on July 26, 2005.[5]

While demonstrating excellent results, this campaign showed the need to change some of the aerodynamic features of the weapon. To compensate for delays in AASM deliveries in 2008 France ordered dual-mode (laser- and GPS/INS-guided) GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II kits for integration with Mirage 2000D and Rafale fighter-bombers.[6] The GPS/INS + IIR guided version completed its qualification tests on July 9, 2008, after three firings at the DGA's missile test range in Biscarosse.[7] This 250 kg IR version performed a night launch from a Rafale fighter-bomber at DGA's Biscarosse test range in December 2010.

According to Safran Electronics & Defense, the weapon was launched at a range of more than 50 km from the target, which was hit within one meter.[8] A 125 kg version was successfully test fired on January 27, 2009,[9] and a laser guided variant was air-launched for the first time on June 17, 2010.[10]

The 1000 kg version commenced testing in 2020, with inert separation trials from a Rafale.[11][12] Qualification firings finished in early 2023 and a delivery of the first kits started the same year.[13]

Cost

According to French Senate's Comité des Prix de Revient des fabrications d'Armement (CPRA) cited by the daily La Tribune, the total cost of the AASM program including development costs and the delivery of 2348 kits is €846m.[14] On that basis the per-weapon cost is $300,000 or twelve times the cost of the comparable American JDAM, although the latter has been manufactured in much larger quantities (~250,000 kits) and would be reasonable to expect a drastic reduction of the price of the French munition if larger contracts are signed and economies of scale are achieved.[15]

The 2012 defence budget presented to the Senate reported the project had cost €592.2m (~US$800m) with a unit cost of €164,000, or €252,000 including development costs.[16]

Variants

AASM comes in several variants according to its size and the type of guidance used.

In October 2010, these versions were given alphanumeric designations with the INS/GPS version becoming the SBU-38 (SBU=Smart Bomb Unit), the INS/GPS/IIR version becoming the SBU-54 and the INS/GPS/SALH version becoming the SBU-64; the system as a whole was renamed Hammer to make it more appealing to export customers.[19]

Operational use

The first order for AASM was placed by the DGA in 2000 for a total of 744 units; deliveries started in 2007 after a two-year delay in development.[20] In 2009 a second order for 680 units was placed, by the end of that year deliveries had reached 334.[21]

Afghanistan

AASM made its combat debut on April 20, 2008, during the War in Afghanistan when a Rafale fighter dropped two in support of ground troops.[22]

Libya

On 24 March 2011 it was reported that an AASM bomb dropped from a Dassault Rafale was used to destroy a Libyan Air Force G-2 Galeb light ground attack/trainer jet, the first Libyan warplane to challenge the no-fly zone during the 2011 Libyan civil war, on the runway just after the plane had landed at Misrata Airport.[23]

On 6 April 2011, it was reported that a AASM bomb dropped from a Dassault Rafale was used to destroy a Libyan tank at a range of 55 km.[24]

In Libya, 225 AASM bombs have been dropped [25]

"Also referred to as the Hammer, the AASM weapon has impressed during the campaign to date. Incorporating a precision guidance kit and propulsion system, the design will eventually be available for use with standard bombs weighing between 125kg and 1,000kg, although a 250kg version is the only one currently in service. Sagem cites a range capability of more than 32nm from high altitude, or 8nm from low level. Launches can also be made from an off-axis angle of up to 90°, while up to six weapons can be fired against individual targets in a single pass and with just one trigger press." And "Libya represents the first opportunity for the French Air and Space to employ the Thales Damocles targeting pod, although the Navy gave the system its combat debut over Afghanistan in late 2010."[26]

India

According to a report by Hindustan Times, India placed an order for "large numbers" of the Hammer in September 2020 and deliveries will be completed by the end of November 2020. The reports adds that the French Air and Space Force will transfer some of its supplies of Hammer to India to ensure immediate deliveries.[27]

India has started the process of integrating Hammer missile to its indigenous fighter Tejas.[28]

Ukraine

On January 16, 2024, French president, Emmanuel Macron announced France would be providing several hundred AASM HAMMER precision-guided weapons to Ukraine, at a rate of 50 units per month in 2024.[29][30][31][32]

Operators

Файл:AASM operators.svg
Map with AASM operators in blue

Current operators

Future operators

See also

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Шаблон:Good article

  1. Шаблон:Cite web
  2. Шаблон:Cite web
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  4. Nick Cook, "Europe sees technology as key: requirements in Europe are currently centred on the RAF's Precision Guided Bomb programme". Interavia Business & Technology. April, 2002. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  5. Gilles Bessero, "Missile launching tests: main stakes for DGA/SPNuM". Ixarm Шаблон:Webarchive. August 1, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  6. "French Adding GPS to Paveway-II Bombs". Defense Industry Daily. February 14, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  7. Sagem Défense Sécurité, Infrared terminal guidance version of AASM successfully completes final qualification firing test Шаблон:Webarchive. July 16, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  8. Шаблон:Cite web
  9. Sagem Défense Sécurité, Successful first firing test of the Sagem AASM 125 air-to-ground weapon Шаблон:Webarchive. February 12, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  10. Sagem Défense Sécurité, First launch of Sagem AASM missile with terminal laser guidance a success Шаблон:Webarchive. July 9, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  11. Шаблон:Cite web
  12. Шаблон:Cite magazine
  13. 13,0 13,1 Шаблон:Cite web
  14. Шаблон:In lang Dominique Merchet, "Une bombe française à 360.000 euros pièce - Sagem conteste". Libération. August 27, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  15. Шаблон:Cite web
  16. Шаблон:Cite web
  17. "France’s AASM Precision-Guided Bombs". Defense Industry Daily. July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  18. Шаблон:Cite web
  19. Robert Wall, "Call it 'Hammer'". Ares. October 20, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
  20. Шаблон:In lang Sénat of France, Projet de loi de finances pour 2008: Défense - Equipement des forces. November 22, 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  21. Шаблон:In lang Sénat of France, Projet de loi de finances pour 2010: Défense - Equipement des forces. November 19, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  22. Christina Mackenzie, "Rafale Fires First AASM". Ares. April 28, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  23. Шаблон:Cite news
  24. Шаблон:Cite news
  25. October 12, 2011 France Spent Over 1,000 Bombs and Missiles in the 7 Month Libyan Campaign Шаблон:Webarchive
  26. Flightglobal, June 14, 2011 France's Rafale fighter proves its 'omnirole' skills
  27. 27,0 27,1 Шаблон:Cite web
  28. Шаблон:Cite web
  29. Ukraine conflict: France to send AASM guided bombs and more SCALP EG missiles, Germany refuses Taurus. Janes. 18 January 2024.
  30. France is preparing 40 SCALP EG missiles for Ukraine. MILITARNYI. 17 January 2024.
  31. France will transfer 50 “missiles” to Ukraine every month. MILITARNYI. 18 January 2024.
  32. France Will Deliver Up to 50 Aerial Bombs to Ukraine Every Month. Defense Express. 20 January 2024.
  33. Шаблон:Cite news
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  36. https://www.avionslegendaires.net/2024/01/actu/afin-de-contrer-la-russie-lukraine-recevra-de-la-france-de-nouvelles-munitions-de-precision/