French defense procurement agency DGA awarded Sagem (Safran group) a major
contract in late December 2009 for AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire) modular
air-to-ground weapons to be deployed by the French air force.
The contract covers:
· A long-term order for 3,400 AASMs, including an initial firm order for 680
units.
· Development and integration of a latest-generation GPS module.
· Qualification and production engineering for the inertial/GPS/laser terminal
guidance version.
Developed and produced by Sagem, the AASM weapon comprises a guidance kit
and range augmentation kit integrated on a standard 250 kg bomb. The AASM
family also includes 125, 500 and 1,000 kg bombs.
Fired from standoff distance day or night and in all weather conditions, the AASM
offers a range exceeding 50 kilometers. The AASM can be released at low altitude,
and can also be fired off-axis, in relation to the aircraft’s flight path. It offers very high
precision and strikes its target vertically, a feature suited to asymmetrical conflicts.
This makes it the perfect weapon for combat in difficult terrain or urban
environments, for both planned missions and opportunity fire.
The new inertial/GPS/laser-guided version expands the AASM family, which already
includes two versions qualified on the Rafale multirole combat aircraft, with
inertial/GPS or inertial/GPS/infrared guidance. In particular, the new version enables
precision strikes against moving targets.
This latest order follows the initial contract won by Sagem for 750 AASMs to be
delivered to the French air force. The AASM has been deployed on Rafale fighters
in Afghanistan for the last two years.
The AASM is also marketed by MDBA as part of its broad offering of weapon
system meeting the requirements of armed forces in international markets.
***
Sagem, a high-tech company in the Safran group, holds world or European leadership
positions in optronics, avionics, electronics and safety-critical software for both civil and
military markets. Sagem is the No. 1 company in Europe and No. 3 worldwide for inertial
navigation systems (INS) used in air, land and naval applications. It is also the world leader
in helicopter flight controls and the European leader in optronics and tactical UAV systems.
Operating across the globe through the Safran group, Sagem and its subsidiaries employ
6,700 people in Europe, Southeast Asia and North America. Sagem is the commercial name
of the company Sagem Défense Sécurité.
For more information: www.sagem-ds.com
