Bomb model could help Ukraine increase the range of attacks on Russia

Ukraine will receive HAMMER guided bombs from France, which can strike targets at long distances even when dropped from low altitudes.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced last week that France will deliver 50 HAMMER-class anti-tank bombs to Ukraine per month from now until the end of 2024. He also stated that this bomb model, originally designed for Mirage and Rafale fighter jets, has been modified to fit Soviet-made aircraft currently in service with the Ukrainian Air Force, but did not disclose the specific model.

"This type of bomb will help the Ukrainian army strike targets deep behind Russian lines," Lecornu emphasized.

A Rafael fighter jet carrying HAMMER bombs. Photo: French Ministry of Defence.

HAMMER is an extended-range bomb developed by the French defense group Safar in the 1990s and put into service in the French army in 2007. Technically, it is a conventional bomb converted into a smart bomb by adding a conversion kit, similar to the JDAM line produced by the US.

The standard version consists of a 250 kg bomb with a guidance system mounted in the nose and a range extender kit (REK) in the tail.

HAMMER also comes in 100 kg, 500 kg and 1000 kg bomb versions. Its conversion kit can also be used with the US BLU-109/B 900 kg bunker buster bomb.

The bomb uses an inertial guidance system supported by GPS satellite positioning, allowing it to accurately strike a fixed target given specific coordinates. Some variants are equipped with terminal guidance systems, such as semi-active laser seekers or infrared imaging sensors, enabling them to target moving targets and increasing the accuracy of the strike.

The difference between the HAMMER bomb and the JDAM series is that it is equipped with an additional solid-fuel rocket engine, which is why it is also called a missile. Both the HAMMER and JDAM-ER, a version equipped with a range extender kit, have a maximum range of approximately 70 km when dropped from high altitudes, but the French bomb can fly further when dropped from low altitudes thanks to its rocket engine, a feature that the JDAM series lacks.

The rocket motor and guidance system also allow the HAMMER bomb to fly in a straight or upward trajectory, instead of just pointing down like the JDAM bomb. This allows it to fly over mountainous terrain, as well as launch from areas with many obstacles, easy to hide.

HAMMER bomb. Photo: Wikimedia

If France supplies Ukraine with larger HAMMER bombs than the standard version, Ukraine could use them to strike more targets than the current 250 kg JDAM-ER bombs. The HAMMER version, based on the BLU-109/B bunker-busting bomb, would enable Ukrainian forces to destroy fortified targets such as bridges or underground bunkers.

It is currently unclear which aircraft Ukraine will equip with the HAMMER bomb, but it is likely to be the Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters, two models that the Ukrainian Air Force has previously modified to use the JDAM-ER bomb, which is similar in size and weight to the HAMMER. Another candidate for the HAMMER bomb is the Su-24 attack aircraft, which has been modified to fire the Storm Shadow/EG SCALPS cruise missile.

"The HAMMER bomb will give the Ukrainian Air Force the capability to accurately strike Russian forces, including targets far from the front lines. Its long range allows pilots to launch attacks outside the range of enemy air defense systems, reducing the risk of being shot down," military expert Joseph Trevithick stated.

Pham Giang (Based on Drive, Newsweek, Defense News )

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/mau-bom-co-the-giup-ukraine-tang-tam-tap-kich-nga-4702848.html