French President Emmanuel Macron has promised Ukraine a license to produce AASM Hammer guided bomb kits. The announcement came during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Paris and reflects a broader shift from one-time deliveries toward licensed production and industrial cooperation.
AASM Hammer kits have already been used by the Ukrainian Air Force against Russian positions. The system turns conventional aerial bombs into precision weapons by adding a guidance unit and a solid-fuel booster.
What the Hammer kit does
The kit can be paired with bombs weighing from 250 to 1,000 kilograms. Its value is that it extends the usefulness of existing air-delivered munitions and gives aircraft a guided strike option without relying only on fully new weapons.
Ukraine is especially interested in the AASM Hammer XLR version, which is reported to provide a range of up to 140 kilometers. The extended-range version was shown at the Paris Air Show and uses a turbojet engine instead of a traditional solid-fuel booster.
Why a license matters
For Ukraine, licensed production is more important than a single shipment. It can reduce dependence on external delivery schedules, build domestic industrial competence and create a base for maintenance, adaptation and scaling.
For France, the decision supports Ukraine while also tying defense cooperation to European industrial capacity. If implemented, the license would add another element to Ukraine’s growing model of wartime production: foreign technology, local manufacturing and faster adaptation to battlefield needs.
