France is acquiring a new, all-weather, precision air-to-ground weapon, the AASM, which will equip its Rafale fighter units. The characteristics of this conventional weapon will add greatly to the coherence of France’s air operations. Applying modern air operational concepts such as Effects Based Operations, the AASM incorporates the latest French aerospace and defence industrial technologies. It has the potential to be developed into a wide family of weapons to meet new operational requirements.
