France Commits to Monthly Missile Deliveries to Ukraine in 2024

France has committed to providing Ukraine with 50 missiles per month throughout 2024, totaling 600 missiles for the entire year, as the war-torn nation continues to grapple with the effects of conflict.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced the initiation of missile deliveries to Ukraine during an interview on France Inter, reports Le figaro. Starting January 18, France will supply approximately 50 unnamed "rockets" per month until the end of the year.

Lecornu clarified that this is a distinct initiative from President Emmanuel Macron's decision to provide about 40 SCALP air-to-air cruise missiles to Ukraine.

The provided missile weapons are believed to be modified air bombs from the AASM family, equipped with a rocket booster, and classified as missiles in the French military system. AASM is a modernization kit designed for existing free-falling unguided aerial bombs, specifically the American JDAM model used by Ukrainian tactical aviation.

The AASM kit includes a front section with a guidance system and flaps and a rear section with an accelerator to enhance the flight range. Two types of aerial bomb kits are in use in France: "Hammer-250" for 227 kg Mk. 82 bombs and "Hammer-1000" for 908 kg Mk. 84 bombs.

The front part of the AASM kit can incorporate three guidance systems: inertial with GPS correction, inertial with thermal imaging GAS, or similar with a laser beam guidance system. In 2016, the French Ministry of Defense commissioned the production of 764 AASM sets with an inertial guidance system, 384 sets with thermal imaging GOS, and 600 sets with laser guidance.

The range of these munitions varies based on launch height and initial speed, officially ranging from 15 to 70 kilometers. With the expected commencement of ammunition transfers in January, Ukrainian aircraft, particularly Soviet-era models like the MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, are anticipated to be the primary carriers of the Mk.82 air bombs. The heavier Mk.84 bombs, weighing 908 kilograms, are only compatible with the Su-24M front-line bomber.

Additionally, AASM ammunition demonstrated compatibility with F-16 fighters during tests in 2014. Ukraine is set to receive its first F-16 fighters this year.