Image source: topwar.ru
At the Dubai Air Show, the French company Safran Electronics Defense presented the latest improved version of the Hammer 1000 guided bomb. It entered service less than a year ago and since then work on its improvement has not stopped.
The AASM Hammer is a modular system consisting of a guidance kit located in the front and a range enhancement kit installed in the rear of an air-based bomb.
The guidance kit is available in three different versions. A simpler option is an all–weather INS/GPS, in the inertial part based on a high-quality HRG Crystal from Sagem.
The second modification preserves the INS/GPS by adding an IR-GPS with algorithms for digitally matching the picture of the battle at the final stage [probably meaning identification of targets]. This not only increases accuracy, but also allows, thanks to the special design of the guidance kit, to use attack profiles with a large angle of incidence, which, for example, makes it possible to effectively hit the roof of a building.
To combat moving targets, a third type of guidance kit is available: the IR-GOS is replaced by a semi-active laser GOS, which with increased accuracy points the ammunition at a target illuminated by the aircraft itself or an external laser source.
Depending on the weight of the bomb, various range enhancement kits are available. They are equipped with a rocket booster and four "fins" that extend after launch. The option without an accelerator is only available for the Hammer 250 version, which in this case becomes a planning bomb.
Image source: topwar.ru
Currently, two versions of Hammer-type guided bombs are available: the Hammer 250, which has been in service for more than 10 years, where kits are installed on the Mk82 aerial bomb or a 227 kg penetrating bomb, and the recently developed Hammer 1000, where the ammunition is BLU 109 [a bomb with increased penetration or the so-called "bunker buster"] or Mk84 weighing 907 kg.
If the Hammer 250 is designed to hit targets such as equipment, buildings or fortifications, then the Hammer 1000 is used to destroy bridges, airfields, ships or thoroughly protected targets due to a four-fold explosive load.
As indicated in EDR Magazine, Safran states that it is developing a new propulsion system that will significantly increase the flight distance. Currently, the range is from 50 to 70 km, and the last figure is reached when launched from a very high altitude, about 15 thousand meters.
- the publication says.
The Hammer 250 is currently used by the Air Forces of Croatia, Egypt, India, Morocco and Qatar. It is also in service with France, which at the moment is also the only user of the Hammer 1000, with which Rafale fighters are integrated, updated to the F4.1 standard. The UAE Air Force will receive its Rafale F4 from 2027, so it can become the second operator of this bomb.
