A French Navy Rafale aircraft dropped two AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire) air-to-ground modular weapons in early June, the second and final integration firing, it was announced June 21 here. Developed by Sagem Défense Sécurité, the AASM includes guidance and range-extending kits that can be bolted onto bombs.The Rafale dropped a salvo of two AASMs over the Landes test range, after catapult-launching from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean and refueling several times in the air. The weapons penetrated cloud cover and struck the target.Following a first firing in April, this second AASM integration firing concludes the demonstration of the weapon’s operational ability on the Rafale.

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