Recently, France announced that it will begin supplying the Ukrainian army with 50 unique "Hammer" precision-guided bombs per month, a move aimed at enhancing the long-range strike capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force and reducing the risk to pilots and aircraft.
The "Hammer" bomb, which stands for "Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range", is an advanced type developed by the French Safran group. The bomb was created on the basis of a 500-pound conventional aerial bomb, which was given a range of about 70 kilometers by adding a guidance section and a tail range extender component. This guided bomb is similar to the American extended-range Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM-ER), but has unique advantages.
The Minister of the French Armed Forces, Sebastien Lecornu, revealed that in addition to the "Hammer" bombs, France will also provide Ukraine with 40 SCALP-EG air-launched cruise missiles and increase the delivery of 155mm shells from 2,000 to 3,000 per month. This series of military aid demonstrates France's determination to support Ukraine.
The history of the development of prototypes of the "Hammer" guided bomb dates back to the end of the 90s of the last century. As a conversion kit for existing conventional aerial bombs, it can be equipped with guidance sections and extended-range components on bombs of different weights to achieve flexible tactical use. Guidance methods mainly include GPS-assisted inertial guidance systems (INS), and infrared thermal imaging or semi-active laser guidance can also be added to strike fixed or moving targets.
At present, the "Iron Hammer" guided bomb has become the standard equipment of France, Egypt, India, Morocco, Qatar and other countries, and has been applied on many battlefields. During the battles in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, the French Air Force successfully used this guided bomb, demonstrating its high flexibility and precision strike capabilities.
For Ukraine, the acquisition of "Iron Hammer" guided bombs will further enhance the combat capabilities of its air force, allowing it to strike enemy targets at greater distances. It is not yet known which Ukrainian aircraft will carry this guided bomb and how long it will take Ukrainian pilots to get acquainted with and master this new **. However, the integration and application of such guided bombs is likely to accelerate as Ukraine receives more F-16 fighter jets. This news indicates that France is supplying Ukraine with advanced ** technology to help it gain an advantage in the conflict with Russia. These modular air-to-surface** "Hammer" bomb guidance kits are highly accurate and long-range strike capable, which can significantly improve the combat effectiveness of the Ukrainian Air Force.
The Hammer Bomb Guidance Kit is characterized by its high modularity and compatibility, allowing for flexible tactical use by adapting bombs of different weights. At the same time, it is equipped with advanced guidance systems including GPS and laser guidance, which enables these ** to accurately hit targets in complex environments. The report also mentions that the "Iron Hammer" can hit targets at a distance of up to 70 kilometers by gliding, which shows its excellent long-range strike capabilities.
For Ukraine, the acquisition of such ** will undoubtedly enhance its air defense and strike capabilities, helping to better respond to Russian military pressure in the conflict. However, it could also exacerbate tensions in the region, triggering more military confrontations and the risk of escalation.
In addition, this incident also reflects the complex positions and competing interests of the international community on the Ukraine issue. As one of Ukraine's allies, France's ** aid is undoubtedly a kind of support for Ukraine, but it may also trigger concerns and reactions from other countries. In the future, the direction of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the positions and actions of the international community, will remain worth paying attention to.
In short, France's delivery of hundreds of modular air-to-surface ** "Hammer" bomb guidance kits to Ukraine is an important military event that will have a profound impact on the war situation in Ukraine and the position of the international community. While focusing on the incident itself, we should also be aware of the complexities and potential risks involved.