Ukraine will receive from France HAMMER guided bombs, which can strike targets at long distances even when dropped from low altitude.
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced last week that his country would deliver 50 HAMMER extended-range bombs to Ukraine each month until the end of 2024. He also said that the bomb, originally designed to equip Mirage and Rafale fighter jets, had been modified to be mounted on Soviet-made aircraft in the Ukrainian air force, but did not disclose the specific model.
"This type of bomb will help the Ukrainian army attack targets deep behind Russian defense lines," Mr. Lecornu emphasized.
Rafael fighter jet carrying HAMMER bomb. Photo: French Ministry of Defense
HAMMER is an extended-range bomb developed by the French defense group Safar in the 1990s and put into service in the French army in 2007. Technically, it is a conventional bomb converted into a smart bomb by adding a conversion kit, similar to the JDAM line produced by the US.
The standard version consists of a 250 kg bomb with a guidance system mounted in the nose and a range-extension kit (REK) in the tail.
HAMMER also comes in 100 kg, 500 kg and 1000 kg bomb versions. Its conversion kit can also be used with the US BLU-109/B 900 kg bunker buster bomb.
The bomb uses an inertial guidance system supported by GPS satellite positioning, allowing it to accurately hit a fixed target that has been provided with specific coordinates. Some variants are equipped with terminal guidance systems, such as a semi-active laser seeker or infrared imaging sensor, allowing it to hit moving targets and increase the accuracy of the strike.
The difference between the HAMMER bomb and the JDAM series is that it is equipped with a solid-fuel rocket motor, which is why it is also called a missile. The HAMMER bomb and the JDAM-ER, the JDAM's range-enhancing version, both have a maximum range of about 70 km when dropped at high altitudes, but the French bomb can fly further when dropped at low altitudes thanks to its rocket motor, which the JDAM series does not have.
The rocket motor and guidance system also allow the HAMMER bomb to fly in a straight or upward trajectory, instead of just pointing down like the JDAM bomb. This allows it to fly over mountainous terrain, as well as launch from areas with many obstacles, easy to hide.
HAMMER bomb. Photo: Wikimedia
If France transfers a larger-than-standard HAMMER bomb, Ukraine could use it to strike more targets than the current 250-kg JDAM-ER bomb. The HAMMER version, made from the BLU-109/B bunker-buster bomb, would help Ukrainian forces destroy fortified targets such as bridges or underground tunnels.
It is not yet clear which aircraft Ukraine will equip with the HAMMER bomb, but it is likely to be the Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters, two models previously modified by the Ukrainian Air Force to use the JDAM-ER bomb, which is similar in size and weight to the HAMMER. Another candidate for the HAMMER bomb is the Su-24 attack aircraft, which has been modified to fire the Storm Shadow/EG SCALPS cruise missile.
"The HAMMER bomb will give the Ukrainian air force the ability to precisely strike Russian forces, including targets far from the front line. Its long range allows pilots to launch strikes outside the range of enemy air defense systems, reducing the risk of being shot down," said military expert Joseph Trevithick.
Pham Giang (According to Drive, Newsweek, Defense News )
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