Safran's Proud Announcement: Unveiling the Mystery of the "Wonder Weapon" in Their Latest Arsenal
In the bustling city of Montluçon, nestled in the French department of Allier, Safran Electronics & Defense stands tall, producing a weapon that's garnered quite a reputation stateside - the "wonder weapon." This weapon is none other than the AASM, or Modular Air-to-Ground Weapon, also known as "Hammer." It symbolizes French industrial agility amidst the ever-changing geopolitical landscape.
(© Nathan Laine/Bloomberg/Getty Images) By Sabrina Guintini Published on
BFMTV highlights Safran's defense branch as a usual suspect when it comes to engines for Airbus and Boeing. However, they've got another ace up their sleeve - an "intelligent bomb" so impressive that even American defense is envious. Nicknamed the "wonder weapon," the AASM is a dual kit made up of a fixed guidance module at the front and a propulsion module at the rear, capable of transforming a standard bomb into a stunningly modern weapon. It delivers strikes with surgical precision, even without a GPS signal.
The spotlight has shone brightly on the AASM ever since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In response to a request from the French government, Safran adapted its bombs for Ukrainian Mig and Sukhoi fighters - in a remarkable feat achieved within just four months. This move was praised by the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) as they aimed to replace the ineffective American JDAM munitions against Russian jammers. The AASM's precision gyroscopes, unique know-how, enable it to deliver accurate strikes even amidst full electronic warfare.
Speaking of the man at the helm, who is Olivier André, the boss of Safran reluctant to invest in a city with an eco-majority? The production ramp-up is significant: from 830 units in 2024 to an estimated 1,200 units in 2023, production has quadrupled since the invasion of Ukraine. Recent events have prompted Safran to equip French frigates with the sleek Paseo XLR system in just four weeks, enabling identification of targets at 40 km and neutralization at minimal cost. With a turnover growing 46% in two years, reaching 3 billion euros, Safran Electronics & Defense is laying solid foundations as a cornerstone in the new war economy. Keep an eye out for their next innovations at the Paris Air Show in June.
But who else is vying for a piece of the precision-guided munitions market? Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, MBDA (a European consortium), and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems are all significant players in this competitive global arena, each offering formidable precision-guided munitions to challenge the AASM's dominance.
In the competitive global market of precision-guided munitions, Safran Electronics & Defense, with a turnover of 3 billion euros, joins industry giants such as Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, all aiming to strengthen their positions in this lucrative finance sector, particularly within the aerospace industry. Despite the intense competition, the AASM's unique features, such as its ability to deliver accurate strikes even amidst electronic warfare, have propelled it to be a standout weapon in the industry.
