According to the French daily Le Parisien, France intends to increase production of AASM hammer-guided air bombs from 830 units in 2024 to 1,200 in 2025. The use of French-made precision bombs by Ukrainian fighter planes has increased dramatically since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and they are being provided to Ukraine as part of continuing defence assistance.
France has been a steadfast and strong donor of military aid to Ukraine, supplying advanced arms, gear, and support of all types to enhance the defence of Ukraine against Russian actions. In March of 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed a fresh €2 billion (about $2.1 billion) package of military assistance for Ukraine. It comprises anti-tank missiles, air defence, Mirage-compatible missiles, armoured cars, ammunition, and drones.
According to Le Parisien, the French manufacturer Safran’s AASM Hammer has become the preferred weapon of Ukraine’s air force because of its great precision and ability to withstand Russian electronic warfare. Safran was ordered by the French government to equip Ukrainian fighter planes with surface-to-air missile systems (SAM) after American JDAM GPS-guided missiles failed to hit targets. With the integration supposedly finished “in less than four months in the fall of 2023,” Safran made it possible for Ukraine’s Soviet-era planes to target precisely.
Franck Saudo, CEO of Safran, emphasised the system’s interoperability with Ukrainian MiG and Su aircraft as well as its resilience to GPS jamming. According to Saudo, the module feature ensures exceptional target precision and shields the bombs from Russian GPS interference. The French Defense Ministry previously affirmed that Ukraine’s current fleet of planes may be used to fire the bombs.
Le Parisien claims that France presently provides Ukraine with about 50 AASM bombs per month. The weapon was initially deployed by the French army in 2008 and was subsequently adapted for use on other fighter planes, such as the F-16 and Mirage 2000. It was standard on the French twin-engine, multirole fighter jet, the Dassault Rafale.
The French defence sector is an important European and global player in terms of being a high-technology and industry-strong foundation because of world-class companies such as Dassault Aviation, Naval Group, Airbus Group, MBDA, Nexter, Safran, and Thales. It rests on an immense ecosystem of nearly 4,500 startups, SMEs, and mid-size companies that contribute directly and indirectly to nearly 220,000 individuals.
The French defence market is positioned for steady growth, with the projected market size rising from an estimated $61 billion in 2023 to more than $90 billion in 2033 and with a CAGR of around 4%.
The current geopolitical tensions, particularly the conflict in Ukraine, have increased modernisation and production activities, leading to heightened government orders and industrial mobilisation. France’s desire to steer European defence drives is buttressed by its powerful industrial foundation and growing budget but needs to narrow strategic shortcomings as well as push cooperation at the EU level if it is to fully actualise its vision for strategic autonomy.
