Free Republic

France tests infrared-guided missile Published: Dec. 16, 2010 PARIS, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Sagem and the French defense procurement agency have conducted the first night launch of an AASM missile with infrared terminal guidance. The company said the night launch of the air-to-ground weapon from the DGA's test center in southwest France was part of export evaluation tests. The 511-pound missile was launched with a vertical trajectory more than 31 miles from its target. The missile's infrared imager identified its target several seconds before impact and its image processing algorithms enabled it to hit the target within 1 yard. "This...

Rafale and AASM-Hammer, a dynamic duo 20-07-2011 - As we have seen throughout recorded history, each new conflict seems to bring its own share of innovations. Recently, for example, the air strikes over Libya – Operation Harmattan for France, and Operation Unified Protector for NATO in the framework of the UN resolution 1973 – have spotlighted the unexpectedly powerful performance of a new French-made weapon, the AASM Hammer (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) air-to-ground modular weapon developed and produced by Sagem. The AASM made a discreet debut in the spring of 2008, when the French air force deployed a...