AASM test from Mirage 2000D
France’s Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) is similar in concept to the American GPS-guided JDAM bomb, but its execution includes several key differences. The global trend toward GPS-guided weapons makes a French entry important for industrial as well as operational reasons, and the Sagem/MBDA team hope AASM will earn them a market niche.
AASM’s execution also included delays, however, which was very inconvenient for France’s new Rafale fighters. Dassault’s Rafale needed a GPS-guided weapon to conduct autonomous precision strikes, but hasn’t integrated America’s JDAM. A dual-mode weapon would have been even better over Afghanistan, combining the moving target capabilities of laser or imaging infrared guidance with JDAM’s all-weather capabilities. France bought Enhanced Paveway weapons as an interim solution, but AASM’s GPS and dual-mode GPS/IIR versions eventually finished development, and the DGA has begun ordering them in quantity. In order to become a true market success, however, Sagem and MBDA know that their AASM will have to find export markets beyond France. Will that place them in conflict with Dassault?
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