France took a different approach, aiming to fill the gap between the Paveway II and conventional guided missiles with the rocket-powered Sagem Aasm (
Armement Air-Sol Modulaire), recently renamed Hammer.
The trend to modular weapons is illustrated by the 340-kg Sagem Defense Securite AASM (
Armement Air-Sol Modulaire), based on a 250-kg bomb.
The F2 will have clearance for the Sagem Aasm (
Armement Air-Sol Modulaire) and the MBDA Scalp-EG cruise missile.
The bomb kit with the lowest publicity profile remains the Sagem AASM (
Armement Air-Sol Modulaire), based on a 250 kg bomb with GPS/INS navigation and later with an IIR seeker.
The F1 aircraft are limited to an air-to-air role, armed with the radar version of the MBDA Mica, whereas the F2 (deliveries of which begin in 2006) will be cleared for air-to-surface attacks with the MBDA Scalp EG cruise missile and the Sagem AASM (
Armement Air-Sol Modulaire).
The Sagem Aasm (
Armement Air-Sol Modulaire) may be regarded as a modular family of bomb-kits, but the modules include a rocket motor.