Safran’s HAMMER for Precision Strike
The Indian Air Force (IAF) evaluated and opted for a significant number of Safran Electronics & Defense designed, developed and produced 3.1-m long Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) Precision Guided Munition (PGM) for its Rafale fleet that also forms the standard PGM of French Armée de l’Air (Adl’A) and IAF Rafale platforms. In a typical surface attack mission the Rafale carries up to six 500 lb AASM/SBU-38/SBU-54/ SBU-64 Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range Hammer (all can be ripple fired in one pass to strike six different desired mean points of impact points with clinical precision for simultaneous attacks on multiple targets), plus four MICA Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAM) and three 2000 litre drop tanks.
A conversion kit for 500 lb class bombs, the guidance section at the front combines data from a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and an Inertial Navigation System (INS) unit through Kalman filtering enabling 10 metre accuracy even in adverse weather and decimation of multiple targets simultaneously. The bomb body (general purpose or penetration) is in the centre and a rocket motor aft. For long distance engagements, the AASM is equipped with a bolt-on tail unit/range extension kit which comprises a solid rocket motor and flip-out wings. Folded wings enable a glide range of 15 km when dropped from low altitude or 50 km when dropped from medium to high altitudes with the guidance processor enabling the pilot or Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) to select the angle at which the bomb impacts the target, thus allowing it to manoeuvre aggressively to engage distant, off-boresight targets.
There is a provision for IIR seeker (SBU-54) for contingency-type operations reported to be capable of being programmed before launch with a template of the target derived from reconnaissance imagery, “acquiring immunity” to GPS jamming and giving it “meter-class” accuracy against precision targets. ATR algorithms compare the actual scene with the memorised scene, identify the designated target, and select the impact point in order to hit with outstanding precision minimising target coordinate errors. AASM has been extensively battle proven over Libya with outstanding performance and reliability. The Semi-Active Laser Homing (SALH) version (SBU-64) gives high accuracy against mobile targets.
Meanwhile, first separation tests of 1000 kg version of AASM Hammer air-toground modular weapon, has successfully completed its first two inert separation tests from a Rafale. The separation dynamics observed during the two firings were in line with simulations. These industrial validation
tests were designed to check the correct sequencing of all components of the wing hard points and the weapon, as well as the wing deployment mechanism on the range extension kit.
Following these successful separation tests, the first live firing tests will be conducted in 2021 as part of the final development and qualification of the 1000 kg AASM. The 1000 kg AASM features a guidance kit derived from the 250-kg version and a specific range extension kit, and has the same modular characteristics with the BLU109 penetrating bomb body and MK84 conventional body, as well as its close functional integration with the Rafale, especially for fire control system and configuration options. This new weapon will give the Rafale an enhanced strike capability, with payload configurations of up to three 1000 kg AASMs per aircraft. As noted earlier, its standoff range is also extended, thanks to the integrated propulsion system.