AASM Hammer

The AASM Hammer program began in 1997 following a competition initiated by the French defense procurement agency. A contract for the initial lot of guidance kits was awarded in 2000. Flight validation testing for the baseline variant occurred between 2004 and 2005, with the system entering service in 2007. Testing for a heavy weight variant commenced in 2020, with qualification completed in early 2023 and deliveries beginning the same year.

The system is a modular air-to-surface stand-off weapon comprising a nose-mounted guidance section and a tail-mounted range extension kit. The extension kit includes winglets for maneuverability and a rocket booster. The system is designed for attachment to various classes of general-purpose bombs. Guidance options include a hybrid inertial navigation system (INS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) designated as the SBU-38. A second variant, the SBU-64, adds an infrared homing module for night operations and increased precision. The SBU-54 variant incorporates a laser guidance module to engage moving targets. The weapon provides all-weather capability and supports off-axis launches, allowing multiple units to be fired against individual targets in a single pass.

The system is operated by France, Croatia, Egypt, India, Morocco, Qatar, and Ukraine, with Serbia identified as a future operator. It is deployed on the Rafale, MiG-29, Su-25, and Mirage 2000-5F. Combat use began in 2008 during the War in Afghanistan. During the 2011 Libyan civil war, the weapon was used to destroy a light ground attack aircraft on a runway and an armored vehicle. In 2024, the system was supplied to Ukraine for use on Soviet-era and Western-sourced fighter aircraft. India integrated the weapon onto the Tejas and utilized it during Operation Sindoor in 2025. In February 2025, an agreement was signed to establish a joint venture for the localization of production, supply, and maintenance of the guidance kits in India. Final assembly and testing for the Indian Air Force and Navy are conducted through this partnership.