French perform night-time launch of AASM missile

Sagem (Safran group) and French defense procurement agency DGA have successfully performed the first night time launch of the 250 kg AASM modular air-to-ground weapon with infrared terminal guidance, as part of export evaluation tests.

The test was carried out by French armed forces using a Rafale multirole fighter deployed at the DGA’s missile test center in Biscarosse, southwest France. The
weapon was launched at a range of more than 50 km from the target, with a vertical terminal trajectory.
Operating at night, the AASM’s infrared imager identified its target several seconds before impact, and its image processing algorithms enabled it to hit the target within one meter.
This successful test reflects the AASM’s ability to carry out precision strikes to within one meter, day or night, and also confirms the ability of the AASM family to meet the operational requirements of air forces in the export market.
The AASM weapon family, developed and produced by Sagem, comprises a guidance kit and range augmentation kit fitted to existing bombs. Offering a range exceeding 50 km, and capable of being fired off-axis in relation to the target, day or night and under all weather conditions, even at low altitude, the AASM features high precision and terminal trajectories perfectly adapted to all types of targets.

The AASM guided weapon is currently being used in Afghanistan on Rafale multirole fighters deployed by French armed forces.

http://www.martinmeynier.com/page/3d.html
http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/article.php?section=defence&article=french-perform-night-time-launch-of-aasm-missile

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