The Quest for Relevant Air Power

124 │ French Air Force
they could only provide a relatively lean interim force of advanced
weapon systems.
At the outset of the post–Cold War era, the FAF’s principal
precision-guided air-to-ground weapon was the laser-guided
AS-30-L missile, widely used by French Jaguars during Desert
Storm. Besides the AS-30-L, the FAF could draw upon the BGL,
an indigenous LGB. The weapon was used during the conflicts in
Bosnia and Kosovo but was withdrawn from service thereafter as
it was more expensive than standard LGBs of US origin. 266 Aside
from the BGL, the American GBU-12 Paveway was introduced
into the FAF’s inventory in 1995. At the time of this writing,
French GBU-12s were being improved to enhanced Paveway standard
with GPS guidance. To deliver these laser-guided weapons,
the FAF has introduced a number of indigenous laser-designator
pods since the mid-1980s. While the early pods only allowed for
daylight operations, more sophisticated pods, introduced in 1993
and in 1999, offered a nighttime capability. 267
Operation Allied Force made the FAF realize that the relationship
between operational requirements and the industrial capacity
to produce PGMs had to be readjusted. 268 Given the importance of
all-weather PGMs, the 2003–8 military planning law announced
the introduction of a new type of weapon, the indigenous
armement air-sol modulaire. 269 The AASM is essentially an allweather
PGM propelled by a rocket booster. Depending on its
release altitude, it can engage targets at close or medium ranges
exceeding 50 km with various options of terminal impact angles.
Currently, two guidance systems are available; the more sophisticated
one integrates an infrared imager seeker with a
combined inertial measuring unit/GPS receiver navigation kit.
Delivery of a third guidance system specifically adapted for engaging
mobile targets is expected for 2012. The new system integrates
a semi active laser with the combined inertial measuring
unit/GPS receiver. Further sophisticated guidance kits, including
a millimetric-wave radar seeker, are likely to be developed.
In April 2008, Rafales engaged Taliban positions with AASMs
for the first time, with the target coordinates provided by a Canadian
forward air controller. 270 The weapon represents a lowcost
complement to the more complex cruise missiles that the
FAF commenced to acquire in the late 1990s.