Paveway

Paveway is a type of bends American origin guided by Laser. It constitutes most of the Air-to-ground Armement of the air forces of the the United States and was largely exported.

During the Second world war one needed 9000 bombs to touch a target of the size of a shelter for plane. To Vietnam, 300. Today we can do it with a ammunition guided by laser drawn since a F-117. (USAF, Reaching Globally, Reaching Powerfully: The United States Air Force in the GULF War (Sept. 1991), p. 55.)

History and Principle

At the beginning of the War of Vietnam, many raids of planes equipped with traditional smooth bombs tried to destroy a bridge. Seen plane, a bridge is a small target defended often well and very solid. After losses, and tens of released bombs, one adapted a head of guidance Laser and wings of control in front of the bomb, and an empennage allowing this one to plane in order not to not expose the plane gunner too much. The results of the first tests were so good that in 1968, Paveway entered in service. The plane gunner (at the time a F-4 Phantom II) also carries a laser POD of illumination with which it indicates the target with the bomb. This one then follows the trajectory to touch the objective.

Characteristics

GBU-10 Paveway I

  • Brought into service: 1976
  • Weight: 1162 kg
  • Length: 436,88 cm
  • Diameter: 71,12 cm
  • Load: Mk-84 of 428,6 kg
  • Range operating: 12,8 km
  • Precision: 9m

GBU-12 Paveway I

  • Brought into service: 1976
  • Weight: 363 kg
  • Length: 327,66 cm
  • Diameter: 45,72 cm
  • Load: Mk-82 87 kg
  • Range operating: 12,8 km
  • Precision: 9 m

GBU-16 Paveway I and II

  • Brought into service: 1983
  • Weight: 499 kg
  • Load: Mk-83 204 kg
  • Range operating: 12,8 km
  • Precision: 9 m

GBU-24 Paveway III

  • Brought into service: 1987
  • Weight: 1162 kg
  • Length: 436,88 cm
  • Diameter: 71,12 cm
  • Load: Mk-84 of 429 kg
  • Range operating: 12,8 km
  • Precision: 1 m

GBU-27 Paveway III

  • Brought into service: 1987
  • Weight: 1162 kg
  • Length: 436,88 cm
  • Diameter: 71,12 cm
  • Load: Mk-84 of 429 kg
  • Range operating: 12,8 km
  • Precision: 1 m
  • It is a GBU-24 modified to enter the compartment of the F-117. It is equipped with a penetrant BLU-109

GBU-28 Penetrator

  • Brought into service: 1991
  • Weight: 2002 kg
  • Length: 566,42 cm
  • Diameter: 71,12 cm
  • Load: 2935 kg
  • Range operating: 12,8 km
  • Precision: 1 m

This special version is called “Bunker buster”. Developed in haste (in 28 days only!) at the time of the War of the Gulf, its body is derived from a barrel of artillery gun. It is thus before all a large metal mass which, with its kinetic energy, is able to penetrate up to 30 m under ground before exploding.

The load of the bomb includes/understands 286 kg (630 lb) of a powerful explosive; the nature of the remainder of the load is classified, but is suspected of being mainly made up of depleted uranium. It is provided with a penetrant BLU-113

See too

Internal bonds

  • Uranium depleted

External bonds

  • Paveway Bomb in the French Naval Aviation
  • Of the reality of the weapons with depleted uranium, article of the Diplomatic World (March 2002)
  • Paveway, Raytheon
  • GBU-28/BLU-113 Penetrator

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