France delivers record batch of AASM Hammer bombs to Ukraine

France has transferred a record batch of AASM Hammer high-precision guided aerial bombs to Ukraine, according to information released on February 25, 2026.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said the AASM Hammer munitions can be deployed from a wide range of aircraft platforms. They are compatible with F-16 fighters, Dassault Rafale and Mirage 2000D aircraft, as well as other combat jets. Ukraine’s Air Force has also successfully adapted the system for use on MiG-29 aircraft.

The AASM Hammer is not a standalone bomb but a modular kit that converts conventional aerial bombs into precision-guided weapons. The system consists of a guidance module and a tail section equipped with fins and a booster accelerator. Depending on the configuration, the weapon can employ inertial, satellite, laser, or infrared guidance, allowing it to strike targets with an accuracy of up to 10 meters. The integrated booster extends the strike range to as much as 70 kilometres, enabling aircraft to release the bombs from safer stand-off distances.

The most widely used versions are designed for 250-kilogram Mk 82 bombs and 1,000-kilogram Mk 84 bombs, although additional modifications exist for other types of ammunition.

Plans to supply these European-made guided bombs to Ukraine first became public in early 2024, when France announced its intention to deliver approximately 50 AASM Hammer kits per month.

Paris later stated that production would increase to 1,200 kits in 2025, up from 830 units manufactured in 2024. The transfers are being carried out as part of France’s ongoing defence assistance to Ukraine.

By Tamilla Hasanova