France increases its production of guided bombs that Ukraine has used against Russia with a devastating effect
France intensifies its production of Hammer bombs, which Ukraine used to break down Russian military targets.
Bombs guided AASM at an exhibition from South Korea Photo Shutterstock
The French company Safran Electronics & Defense told Business Insider that it is to increase the production of AASM Hammer bombs by over 40% this year.
A company spokesman told BI that he is expected to produce 1,200 AASMs in 2025, compared to 830 in 2024.
And the company plans an even larger production. The spokesman added that “we intend to double this rate in the next few years, if we receive orders.”
It is not clear how much of this production will go to the Ukrainian army. The spokesman said he cannot provide details in this regard, but he added: “I can confirm that the AASMs have been tested in battle and were used in Ukraine.”
Hammer is an air-lol weapon with a guide and propulsion kit that turns them into accurately guided bombs capable of deep blows and close air support missions.
These were mounted on the planes of the Soviet era of Ukraine – otherwise filming from the battlefield showed these bombs regarding Russian troops and drone hubs. Ukraine also said they used them to hit a Russian control center.
Safran explained that Hammer bombs have an autonomy of over 69 km.
I am a type of bomb with planar and a type of weapon that Ukraine has appealed more and more along the war, after Russia used them with a devastating effect.
The guided bombs are usually older ammunition that have been transformed into guided guided weapons. They are also significantly cheaper than many other types of weapons, which means they can be produced.
Ukraine has been using more and more glitter bombs, including those manufactured internally.
Safran has adapted Hammer bombs so that they can be loaded into the Ukrainian MIG-29 and SU-25 aircraft.
It is not clear how many Hammer bombs have received Ukraine so far, but the French Minister of Defense, Sébastien Lecornu, said in January 2024 that France will deliver 50 Ukraine every month.
The increase of Safran production comes in the context in which European defense companies seek to increase their production, as European nations increase help for Ukraine and increase defense expenses.
The general defense expenses of Europe increased the launch of the invasion widely in Ukraine in February 2022, many of these countries fearing that Russia could attack elsewhere.
European leaders have warned that they should be done more, including countries to place larger orders and change the rules that could prevent defense industries from increasing production.
Some European defense companies have said that larger orders are needed to gain the necessary confidence to major investments, as in new facilities, which would allow them to increase their production in the coming years.
