French Rafales used AASM in Afghanistan after the weapon entered operational service; Revue Defense Nationale states that a Rafale B launched two AASM bombs there on April 20, 2008, documenting combat use by NATO-aligned forces in the 2001 War in Afghanistan.
Role detailsMunitions
HAMMER / AASM
Also known as
- AASM
- Armement Air-Sol Modulaire
- AASM HAMMER
- HAMMER
- Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range
- SBU-38
- SBU-54
- SBU-64
- AASM-250
- AASM 250
- HAMMER 250
- AASM 1000
- AASM 1000 GS
- HAMMER 1000
- SBAS 38
HAMMER, also known as AASM, is Safran's modular French smart air-to-surface weapon family, combining standard bomb bodies with guidance and range-extension kits for stand-off precision attack. The catalog tracks French Rafale use in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, and 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve, Ukrainian wartime use of French-supplied AASM/HAMMER bombs, source-limited Indian reporting that identified HAMMER munitions on Indian Air Force Rafales during Operation Sindoor, and newer XLR and LIR development paths.
Role in Conflicts
During France's Operation Harmattan in Libya, French Rafales used AASM/HAMMER precision-guided bombs, including an AASM strike that destroyed a Libyan Soko G-2 Galeb near Misrata in late March 2011.
At the start of Operation Serval in January 2013, four French Rafales armed with AASM and GBU-12 struck training camps, infrastructure, and logistics depots in Mali; open reporting confirms AASM carriage and fielding but does not clearly assign individual target effects to AASM rather than GBU-12.
- Side
- Ukraine
France supplied AASM Hammer guided bombs to Ukraine from 2024; Ukrainian official and open-source reporting documents adaptation and use from Ukrainian MiG-29, Su-27, and Su-25 aircraft against Russian targets, while exact sortie and target details vary by report.
Role detailsFrench Rafales used AASM during Operation Chammal, France's component of 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve: a laser-guided AASM was fired in Iraq on May 11, 2015, and an official CJTF-OIR release recorded a French Rafale SBAS 38 AASM destroying an Islamic State bed-down location southeast of Mosul on May 20, 2020.
- Side
- India
Indian reporting said the Indian Air Force used Rafale fighters armed with HAMMER precision-guided munitions during Operation Sindoor strikes against sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir on May 7, 2025; the specific bomb variants and individual targets remain source-limited in open reporting.
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- France
- Built by
- Safran Electronics & Defense
- Type
- Rocket-assisted air-to-ground precision-guided munition kit
- Service note
- 2007-present
- Designer
- Safran Electronics & Defense
- Produced
- 2000s-present
Specifications
- Range
- More than 70 km according to Safran
- Guidance
- Qualified INS/GPS, INS/GPS/infrared, and INS/GPS/laser guidance kits
- Architecture
- Front guidance kit and rear range-extension kit fitted to a standard bomb body
- 250 kg weight
- 340 kg including the 250 kg bomb body, per DGA
- Warhead compatibility
- Compatible with 125 kg, 250 kg, 500 kg, and 1000 kg standard bomb bodies
- 250 kg designations
- SBU-38 INS/GPS, SBU-64 INS/GPS/IR, and SBU-54 INS/GPS/laser
- 1000 kg compatibility
- AASM 1000 GS uses Mk 84, BLU-109, BA84, or P1000 class bomb bodies according to DGA
- Launch profile
- Stand-off, fire-and-forget air launch from low altitude or over rough terrain
- Launch platforms
- Fully integrated on Rafale; Safran also describes light integration or stand-alone firing from F-16, Mirage 2000, and Mirage F1
- XLR development
- EDR Magazine reported 250 kg and 1000 kg XLR development variants with a miniature turbojet and at least 140 km high-altitude range target
- LIR development
- Dual IIR/SAL seeker version reported close to qualification in 2026, with first French deliveries scheduled for 2027
Variants
Safran presents HAMMER/AASM as a modular family built around front guidance kits, rear range-extension kits, and standard bomb bodies. Variant naming is split by guidance seeker, bomb-body class, later 1000 kg Rafale F4 integration, and development work on longer-range or dual-seeker kits.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| HAMMER 250 kg | Primary bomb-body class | Safran markets the 250 kg family with Mk 82 or penetrating bomb bodies and active or inactive range-extension kits. Sources: Safran AASM HAMMER brochure |
| HAMMER 1000 kg | Heavy bomb-body class | Safran documentation shows a 1000 kg class based on BLU-109 or Mk 84 hardback bomb bodies with active or inactive range-extension kits. Sources: Safran AASM HAMMER brochure |
| 125 kg and 500 kg classes | Additional bomb-body classes | Safran's public product page describes HAMMER compatibility with 125 kg, 250 kg, 500 kg, and 1000 kg standard bomb bodies. Sources: Safran AASM HAMMER product page |
| AASM Hammer 250 XLR and 1000 XLR | Extended-range development variants | EDR Magazine reported that Safran displayed 250 kg and 1000 kg XLR models at the 2025 Paris Air Show, with a miniature turbojet replacing the solid-fuel booster and a stated high-altitude range target of at least 140 km. |
| AASM LIR | Dual-seeker guidance variant | EDR Magazine reported that the Laser InfraRed AASM combines imaging infrared and semi-active laser channels, with final qualification documentation underway after March 2026 live-firing tests. Sources: EDR Magazine AASM LIR qualification |
Carrier Aircraft
Dassault documents the Rafale as a carrier for AASM/HAMMER in its public Rafale pages.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Multirole fighter | Dassault's Rafale pages show the aircraft fitted with AASM and list HAMMER among Rafale-cleared weapons. Sources: The Rafale in the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy, Adapt and deliver |
Additional Integration Aircraft
Safran separates Rafale full integration from lighter stand-alone integrations on other fighters, while Indian government material links HAMMER adaptability to the LCA Tejas production context.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Multirole fighter | Safran's public brochure says HAMMER has already been fired from F-16 fighters using the Hammer Stand Alone System. Sources: Safran AASM HAMMER brochure |
 | Multirole fighter | Safran's public brochure says HAMMER has already been fired from Mirage 2000 fighters using the Hammer Stand Alone System. Sources: Safran AASM HAMMER brochure |
 | Fighter aircraft | Safran's public brochure says HAMMER has already been fired from Mirage F1 fighters using the Hammer Stand Alone System. Sources: Safran AASM HAMMER brochure |
 | Light combat aircraft | India's Ministry of Defence described HAMMER as adaptable to multiple platforms, including Rafale and LCA Tejas, in the BEL-Safran Indian production context. Sources: PIB BEL Safran HAMMER JVCA |
Ukrainian Carrier Aircraft
Open reporting and Ukrainian official material document AASM/HAMMER adaptation on Soviet-origin Ukrainian combat aircraft during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Multirole fighter | Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said the French-supplied bombs had been adapted for Ukrainian MiG-29 launches, and The Aviationist documented visual evidence of MiG-29 carriage. Sources: Ukraine MOD AASM Hammer overview, The Aviationist Ukrainian Su-27 AASM |
 | Fighter aircraft | The Aviationist described visual evidence of a Ukrainian Su-27 dropping a French-supplied AASM-250 Hammer bomb. Sources: The Aviationist Ukrainian Su-27 AASM |
 | Attack aircraft | The Aviationist described Ukrainian Su-25 employment of French-made AASM Hammer bombs and quoted a Ukrainian aviation official saying Su-25s could use HAMMER successfully. Sources: The Aviationist Ukrainian Su-25 AASM |
Timeline
HAMMER / AASM Key Events
AASM launched in Afghanistan
Revue Defense Nationale states that a French Rafale B launched two AASM bombs in Afghanistan less than a week after the weapon entered operational service.
Sources: Revue Defense Nationale Rafale recent operations
Operation Serval fielding
French Rafales flew Mali strike missions with AASM among their guided-weapon loads during the opening phase of Operation Serval.
Sources: The Aviationist on Rafales and AASM in Operation Serval, Revue Defense Nationale Rafale recent operations
Laser-guided AASM fired in Iraq
Air & Cosmos reported that a French Air Force Rafale fired a laser-guided AASM in Iraq, the first such operational laser-guided AASM shot in external operations.
Sources: Air and Cosmos laser-guided AASM in Iraq
SBAS 38 AASM fired in Iraq
CJTF-OIR reported that French Rafales fired an SBAS 38 AASM against an Islamic State bed-down location southeast of Mosul.
Sources: CJTF-OIR May 2020 coalition highlights
1000 kg separation tests announced
Safran announced successful inert separation tests of the 1000 kg AASM/HAMMER from Rafale at DGA's Cazaux flight-test center, with qualification planned for the Rafale F4 standard.
Sources: Safran 1000 kg AASM separation tests
DGA announces AASM 1000 GS qualification
DGA announced that it had qualified the AASM 1000 GS and its support system for Rafale F4.1 at the end of 2022, with initial kit deliveries to the French joint munitions service starting afterward.
Sources: DGA AASM 1000 qualification
Ukrainian Air Force footage released
Ukrainian reporting described cockpit footage of French-supplied AASM Hammer bombs being deployed by a Ukrainian Air Force pilot against Russian forces.
Sources: Ukrainska Pravda AASM Hammer footage
BEL-Safran production partnership announced
Safran and Bharat Electronics Limited announced a partnership to create an Indian joint venture for HAMMER manufacturing, customization, sales, and maintenance.
Sources: Safran BEL HAMMER partnership
XLR models shown at Paris Air Show
EDR Magazine reported that Safran displayed AASM Hammer 250 XLR and 1000 XLR models at the Paris Air Show, using a miniature turbojet concept for longer range.
Sources: EDR Magazine AASM Hammer XLR variants
India JV cooperation agreement signed
India's Ministry of Defence said BEL and Safran signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement for HAMMER production in India, with phased localization and BEL-led final assembly, testing, and quality assurance.
Sources: PIB BEL Safran HAMMER JVCA
AASM LIR live-firing tests completed
EDR Magazine reported that DGA live-firing tests at Biscarosse concluded the qualification campaign for the dual IIR/SAL AASM LIR guidance variant.
Sources: EDR Magazine AASM LIR qualification
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
Safran AASM HAMMER product pagePublisher: Safran | Note: Supports HAMMER / AASM manufacturer background and specifications, including range, guidance-kit count, stand-off role, bomb-body compatibility, and Safran Electronics & Defense as the product organization. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Safran AASM HAMMER brochurePublisher: Safran | Note: Supports HAMMER/AASM designation structure, 250 kg SBU-38, SBU-64, and SBU-54 guidance-kit names, bomb-body classes, range-extension kit context, launch profile, and multi-carrier integration language. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Safran 1000 kg AASM separation testsPublisher: Safran | Note: Supports 1000 kg AASM/HAMMER development context, Rafale separation tests at DGA Cazaux, BLU-109 and Mk 84 body compatibility, and planned qualification for Rafale F4. | Accessed: 2026-07-07DGA AASM overviewPublisher: Direction générale de l'armement | Note: Supports AASM modular architecture, Rafale Air and Marine use, three guidance-kit types, autonomous jamming-resistant role, Sagem/Safran industrial-prime context, and the 2000 program contract. | Accessed: 2026-07-07DGA AASM 1000 qualificationPublisher: Direction générale de l'armement | Note: Supports AASM 1000 GS qualification at the end of 2022, 250 kg French service since 2008, Rafale F4.1 carriage of up to three AASM 1000 weapons, compatible heavy bomb bodies, and initial kit deliveries in 2023. | Accessed: 2026-07-07The Rafale in the French Air and Space Force and the French NavyPublisher: Dassault Aviation | Note: Supports Rafale carriage context by showing a Rafale fitted with AASM in Dassault's public Rafale gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Adapt and deliverPublisher: Dassault Aviation | Note: Supports Rafale carriage context by listing HAMMER among Rafale-cleared weapons. | Accessed: 2026-07-07India Today on Rafale strikes with HAMMER munitionsPublisher: India Today | Note: 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict: used by the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor, with the report saying Rafale jets were armed with HAMMER precision-guided munitions for strikes inside Pakistani territory. | Accessed: 2026-07-07FlightGlobal Rafale omnirole LibyaPublisher: FlightGlobal | Note: 2011 First Libyan Civil War: used by French Rafales during Operation Harmattan; the report says AASM/HAMMER was a main Rafale weapon in Libya and identifies an AASM strike that destroyed a Libyan Soko G-2 Galeb near Misrata. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Revue Defense Nationale Rafale recent operationsPublisher: Revue Defense Nationale | Note: 2001 War in Afghanistan: used by French Rafales, including two AASM bombs launched by a Rafale B on April 20, 2008; 2012 Mali War: fielded by four French Rafales armed with AASM and GBU-12 during the January 13, 2013 Operation Serval strike mission. | Accessed: 2026-07-07The Aviationist on Rafales and AASM in Operation ServalPublisher: The Aviationist | Note: 2012 Mali War: fielded by French Rafales during Operation Serval; the report says Rafales attacked rebel training camps and logistics sites in Mali with guided loads that included AASM, while one aircraft still carried three AASM after the raid. | Accessed: 2026-07-07CJTF-OIR May 2020 coalition highlightsPublisher: Combined Joint Task Force - 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct conflict use under Operation Inherent Resolve: 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve: fired by French Rafales on May 20, 2020; the official coalition release says an SBAS 38 AASM destroyed a Daesh bed-down location southeast of Mosul. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Air and Cosmos laser-guided AASM in IraqPublisher: Air & Cosmos | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct conflict use under Operation Inherent Resolve: 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve: fired by a French Air Force Rafale in Iraq on May 11, 2015; the report says this was the first operational laser-guided AASM shot in external operations and places prior AASM use in Afghanistan, Libya, and Mali. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Ukrainska Pravda AASM Hammer footagePublisher: Ukrainska Pravda | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War: used by the Ukrainian Air Force; the report says Ukraine's Air Force released footage of French-supplied AASM Hammer guided bombs being deployed against Russian forces by a Ukrainian pilot. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Ukraine MOD AASM Hammer overviewPublisher: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War: supplied to and used by Ukraine; the Ukrainian MOD says France continues AASM Hammer deliveries, the bombs are adapted for Ukrainian MiG-29 launches, and the munitions are engaging enemy targets. | Accessed: 2026-07-07The Aviationist Ukrainian Su-27 AASMPublisher: The Aviationist | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War: used by the Ukrainian Air Force; the report describes visual evidence of Ukrainian MiG-29 carriage and a Su-27 dropping a French-supplied AASM-250 Hammer bomb. | Accessed: 2026-07-07The Aviationist Ukrainian Su-25 AASMPublisher: The Aviationist | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War: used by the Ukrainian Air Force; the report describes Ukrainian Su-25 employment of French-made AASM Hammer bombs and quotes a Ukrainian aviation official saying Su-25s can use HAMMER successfully. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Safran BEL HAMMER partnershipPublisher: Safran | Note: Supports 2025 Indian production-partnership context, including BEL-Safran plans for HAMMER manufacturing, customization, sales, maintenance, and potential future variants in India. | Accessed: 2026-07-07PIB BEL Safran HAMMER JVCAPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports 2025 BEL-Safran Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement context for HAMMER production in India, phased localization, planned 50:50 joint venture structure, and platform references to Rafale and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. | Accessed: 2026-07-07EDR Magazine AASM Hammer XLR variantsPublisher: EDR Magazine | Note: Supports AASM Hammer 250 XLR and 1000 XLR development context, including Paris Air Show display, miniature-turbojet range-extension concept, and the reported at-least-140 km high-altitude range target. | Accessed: 2026-07-07EDR Magazine AASM LIR qualificationPublisher: EDR Magazine | Note: Supports AASM LIR development context, including March 2026 DGA live-firing tests, dual IIR/SAL seeker configuration, qualification status, and planned first French deliveries in 2027. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Economic Times on Operation Sindoor precision weaponsPublisher: The Economic Times | Note: 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict: used by the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor; the report says Rafale jets launched HAMMER missiles for medium-range precision targets. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Commons AASM display photoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and CC BY-SA 2.0 licensing for an AASM / HAMMER display photo. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Commons AASM bomb-body class display photoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and public-domain release for a photo showing AASM guided bombs in multiple bomb-body classes. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Commons Armement air-sol modulaire photoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and CC BY-SA 3.0 licensing for an AASM display with guidance-kit examples. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Commons Hammer 250 XLR Paris Air Show photoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and CC BY 4.0 licensing for a 2025 Paris Air Show photo of the Hammer 250 XLR variant. | Accessed: 2026-07-07