In a spectacular shootdown on February 16, Russian missile forces reportedly downed a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 fighter, along with the HAMMER AASM it had launched targeting Russian troops.
According to preliminary reports, the Su-27 was the first to be destroyed. Moments later, a second missile—launched by the same air defense battery—intercepted and destroyed the HAMMER AASM fired by the downed aircraft.
The Russian Telegram channel “The Wrong Side” reported that the incident occurred at 13:50 in the Ugledar sector. The 8th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Vostok Group claimed responsibility for the dual kill.
The Ukrainian Su-27 was attempting to strike Russian forces advancing in the Konstantinovka area.
What makes this engagement particularly remarkable is that the Su-27 was reportedly 40 km short of the front line when it was shot down.
Hammer AASM
The Hammer AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire) is a French precision-guided munition developed by Safran Electronics & Defense.
Key Features & Functionality
The Hammer is a long-range glide bomb designed for launch from low altitudes, reducing the launch platform’s exposure to enemy air defense (AD) systems—a significant advantage over traditional glide bombs, which require medium-altitude launches for optimal range.
The strike range of a typical glide bomb depends on release height and speed—greater altitude and velocity result in a longer range.
Unlike conventional glide bombs, the Hammer is rocket-boosted. Upon release, its rocket booster accelerates the bomb and lifts it to medium altitude before burning out. This boost phase provides the Hammer with sufficient altitude and speed for an extended glide phase toward its target, achieving a strike range exceeding 60 km despite a low-altitude launch.
The Hammer’s guidance system varies by variant, incorporating GPS/INS, laser, infrared, or radar for high-precision targeting.
Modular Design & Comparison To Russian Glide Kits
The Hammer AASM is a modular weapon system that transforms standard unguided bombs (125 kg, 250 kg, 500 kg, and 1,000 kg) into precision-guided smart bombs by integrating a rocket booster and a guidance kit.
In contrast, the UMPC (Universal Module for Planning and Correction) glide kits used by Russian forces lack a rocket booster and precision guidance. Instead, they rely on inertial navigation with SATCOM updates, making them less accurate. If SATNAV signals are jammed near the target, their accuracy further deteriorates.
Operational Use & Indian Acquisition
The Hammer AASM is deployed on aircraft such as the Dassault Rafale and has been combat-proven in conflicts across Libya, Mali, and Ukraine.
In September 2020, the Indian Air Force (IAF) acquired Hammer precision-guided munitions from France under emergency procurement powers to enhance the Rafale’s strike capabilities.
In November 2021, an official from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) confirmed to Jane’s that the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) had secured a deal for an unspecified number of Hammer kits for integration with the Tejas fighter jet.
Hammer Engagement & Destruction
Glide bombs are inherently difficult targets for air defense (AD) missile systems due to their low radar frequency (RF) and thermal signatures.
Despite the larger size of Russian UMPC-equipped glide bombs compared to the Hammer AASM and the presence of highly capable Ukrainian AD systems such as NASAMS and IRIS-T, Ukrainian forces have had limited success in intercepting Russian UMPC bombs.
While Ukrainian forces claim to have developed an experimental weapon to counter UMPC bombs, no technical details have been provided, and only one confirmed incident of a successful interception has been reported in the Zaporizhia region.
In contrast, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has recently claimed to be shooting down Hammer AASMs almost daily.
Possible Reasons For The Discrepancy
A key factor could be the predictable ballistic trajectory of the Hammer AASM after release and its significant thermal signature due to rocket motor ignition. Russian AD systems can detect and lock onto the Hammer before its booster burns out, maintaining tracking by intensifying RF energy illumination along the predicted flight path.
On the other hand, Ukrainian AD systems struggle to detect and engage UMPC bombs due to their unpredictable post-release trajectory:
Weak RF Signature at Release
Upon drop, the bomb’s RF signature is weak, likely masked by the strong radar reflections from the launching fighter aircraft.
Trajectory Complexity
The bomb initially drops almost vertically, followed by a rapid trajectory change due to wing deployment. This makes it difficult to establish a stable track and lock.
Minimal RF Signature During Flight
Once in glide mode, the UMPC bomb’s RF signature remains weak, making it difficult to track without focused radar illumination. However, accurately predicting the illumination point is challenging due to the unpredictability of its flight path.
These factors combined make Russian UMPC bombs significantly harder for Ukrainian AD systems to intercept compared to the Hammer AASM.
Su-27 Engagement
If true, the ability of a Russian air defense (AD) missile system to engage a low-flying Su-27 nearly 40 km inside the line of contact is indeed remarkable.
It is highly likely that the AD system responsible for downing the Su-27 and the Hammer AASM was a medium-range Buk-M2 or Buk-M3. While the S-400 could also have been used, its deployment so close to the front lines would be highly unusual.
Russia has repeatedly claimed that its Su-57 stealth fighters are actively supporting air defense operations in Ukraine. These aircraft are said to network with both airborne fighters—such as the Su-35 and Su-30SM—and ground-based AD systems, including the S-400 and Buk-M2.
Given this, a Su-57’s involvement in detecting or assisting in the engagement cannot be ruled out.
Conclusion
The Russian claim of a dual shootdown comes from a usually reliable source. However, as of now, there has been no official confirmation from the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) regarding the Su-27 downing.
If the claim is verified, it would serve as yet another example of how quickly Russian forces analyze, adapt, and counter some of the most advanced Western weapon systems deployed in Ukraine.
From an Indian perspective, Russia’s demonstrated ability to neutralize the French Hammer AASM raises important questions about its future effectiveness. This capability should perhaps be factored into India’s procurement decisions regarding the weapon.
- Vijainder K Thakur is a retired IAF Jaguar pilot, author, software architect, entrepreneur, and military analyst.
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