Ukrainian Su-25s Integrated With French AASM ‘Hammer’ Guided Bombs
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine provides another example of the integration of Soviet equipment with modern weapons systems manufactured in the West. Caused by an extreme lack of post-Soviet ammunition, such makeshift solutions are the only way to provide and extend Ukraine’s combat capabilities. In the case of the Ukrainian Airforce’s Su-25s there recently appeared visual evidence of the integration of French Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) guided bombs.
The AASM guided bombs were delivered by France to Ukraine as part of a wider aid effort to provide aerial munitions and provide an equivalent of the large gravity bombs being widely deployed by Russia. This weapons system was previously made compatible with Su-27 and MiG-29 multirole jets and utilized with success against Russian forces on Ukrainian soil.
The Su-25 is a dedicated attack aircraft whose main role is providing close air support. The jet was intended to be outfitted with Soviet-made FAB bombs. However, the stockpile of said munitions dwindled through two years of ongoing conflict, as all ex-Soviet jets operated by UAF utilized this weaponry.
The number of AASMs provided to Ukraine by France has not been confirmed but it is estimated to be around 600 bombs which were approaching the end of their service life. France has also confirmed that it is aiming to provide Ukraine with approximately 50 of the bombs per month.
Equipping Su-25 with French ASSMs relieves some of the operation pressure on the Ukrainian airforce’s Su-27s and MiG-29s. Despite quite heavy losses suffered by Ukrainian frontline aviation units (21 Su-25s have been reported lost by Oryx), the attack aircraft fulfils a specific role with a calculated level of casualty acceptance. With very limited options at hand, the need to utilize its air force to its greatest extent remains one of the top operational priorities for Ukraine. The exotic mix of weaponry and carrier represented by the AASM-carrying Su-25s is a sign of the limitations and significant supply consumption to be expected of a modern large-scale conventional conflict.