HAMMER Strike Targets Russian Drone Operators in Zaporizhia Region

A Ukrainian MiG-29 has carried out an airstrike using an AASM 250 HAMMER guided bomb against Russian drone operators in the Zaporizhia region.

Telegram channel Sonyashnyk reported this news.

The target — a suspected enemy command post — was identified by a Ukrainian reconnaissance UAV.

After confirming coordinates, the MiG-29 launched the French-made AASM (HAMMER) precision-guided munition.

According to the OSINT project WarArchive, the strike took place in the village of Inzhenerne in the Zaporizhia region.

According to the OSINT project WarArchive, the strike was carried out on an object located in the village of Inzhenerne, Zaporizhia region.

AASM bombs have become one of the most commonly used precision air-dropped munitions in Ukraine’s tactical aviation arsenal.

On May 27, Ukrainian forces reportedly used AASM bombs in an attack on a Federal Security Service (FSB) facility in the Russian border village of Glotovo, Belgorod region.

Reconnaissance drone footage showed the bombs hitting the building’s roof, likely destroying several floors.

AASM

The French AASM is a modular guidance kit designed to convert standard free-fall bombs into precision weapons. Similar to the American JDAM, the AASM features multiple guidance options — GPS, inertial, laser or infrared.

However, unlike JDAMs, the AASM includes a rocket booster, significantly increasing its range: up to 15 km when dropped from low altitude, and up to 70 km from high altitude.

Two main variants are currently in service: the Hammer-250, for 227-kg Mk.82 bombs, and the Hammer-1000, for 908-kg Mk.84 bombs.

According to the plan, testing of the heavier versions was to be completed by the end of 2024.

Safran, the system’s manufacturer, adapted the AASM for use on Ukrainian MiG-29 fighters in just four months.

Since 2023, France has delivered several hundred AASM kits to Ukraine, modifying them for integration with Soviet-designed aircraft, including the Su-25 and MiG-29.

In 2024, France increased AASM output by 40%, producing 830 units. The company has said it is prepared to double production if required.