France is making more of the devastating Hammer bombs that are proving hard for Russia to intercept in Ukraine
French defense company Safran is boosting its production of Hammer bombs.
They've been used by Ukraine to hit Russian targets, and have proved difficult to take out.
The company told BI it could further double production over a few years if it gets enough orders.
France is ramping up its production of Hammer bombs, which Ukraine has used to take out Russian military targets.
French company Safran Electronics & Defense told Business Insider that it is increasing production of AASM Hammer bombs by more than 40% this year.
A company spokeswoman told BI that it expects to make 1,200 AASMs in 2025, up from 830 in 2024.
And the company plans on going further. The spokeswoman added that "we plan to double this rate over the next few years, if the orders are there."
It's unclear how many of the bombs will go to Ukraine's military. The spokesperson said she couldn't give details on that, but added, "I can confirm that AASMs are combat-proven and used in Ukraine."
The Hammer is an air-to-surface weapon with a guidance and propulsion kit that turns munitions into precision-guided bombs capable of deep strikes and close-air-support missions.
They have been fitted to Ukraine's older, Soviet-era jets, and footage has shown them allegedly striking Russian troops and drone hubs. Ukraine also said it used them to hit a control center in Russia.
Safran said the Hammer has a range of more than 43 miles.
Hammer bombs are a type of glide bomb, a piece of weaponry that Ukraine has increasingly adopted throughout the war, after Russia used them to devastating effect.
Glide bombs are typically older munitions that have been converted into precision-guided weapons that are hard to intercept. They're also significantly cheaper than many other types of weaponry, which means they can be easily mass-produced.
Ukraine has increasingly used glide bombs, including domestically made ones.
Safran has adapted the Hammer bombs so they could be used with Ukraine's MiG-29 and Su-25 aircraft.
It's not clear how many Hammer bombs Ukraine has received to date, but France's defense minister, Sébastien Lecornu, said in January 2024 that France would be delivering 50 to Ukraine every month.
Safran's jump in production comes as European defense companies increasingly look to boost their production, as European nations increase their aid to Ukraine and their own defense spending.
Europe's overall defense spending has soared since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, with many countries fearful that Russia may attack elsewhere on the continent.
European leaders have warned that much more needs to be done, including countries placing larger orders and changing rules that may be preventing defense-related industries from ramping up production.
Some European defense companies have said that they need larger orders to give them the confidence to make sizable investments, like new production facilities, that would allow them to grow their output over many years.
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