GBU-24 Paveway III

GBU-24 Paveway III is a third-generation, low-level laser-guided bomb developed in the United States for precision strikes against hardened targets. Designed by Raytheon, it entered service with the United States Air Force in 1986, providing a significant improvement in standoff range and accuracy over earlier Paveway series weapons. The weapon is built around either a BLU-109 penetrator warhead or the later BLU-116 Advanced Unitary Penetrator, and is guided by a sophisticated Texas Instruments seeker head. It has been a key component of the United States and allied air arsenals, seeing extensive combat use in conflicts from the Gulf War to the War in Afghanistan.

Development and Design

The development of the system was initiated by the United States Air Force in the early 1980s to address the limitations of earlier Paveway II bombs, particularly for low-altitude delivery profiles. The project was led by the prime contractor, Raytheon, with critical guidance components developed by Texas Instruments. A key innovation was the new WGU-39 guidance control unit, which featured a larger field-of-view seeker and an advanced autopilot with proportional navigation. This design allowed the weapon to be released from aircraft like the F-111 Aardvark and F-15E Strike Eagle at very low altitudes and significant distances from the target, dramatically improving pilot survivability. The airframe incorporated larger, folding wings for extended glide range and was mated to the hardened BLU-109 bomb body, designed to penetrate fortified structures like command bunkers and aircraft shelters.

Operational History

The weapon entered operational service with the United States Air Force in 1986. Its first major combat deployment occurred during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, where it was used extensively by F-111F aircraft from the 48th Fighter Wing to destroy critical, hardened Iraqi facilities. It later saw action in Operation Allied Force over Kosovo in 1999, employed by United States Navy F/A-18 Hornet and United States Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons. During the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War, it remained a primary bunker-busting weapon for coalition aircraft, including those from the Royal Australian Air Force and the Israeli Air Force. More recently, variants have been used in strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq.

Technical Specifications

The standard configuration uses the 2,000-pound-class BLU-109/B penetrator warhead, which contains 550 pounds of Tritonal explosive. An improved variant uses the BLU-116 Advanced Unitary Penetrator, which features a heavier, denser steel casing for deeper penetration. Guidance is provided by the WGU-39 control section, which houses a semi-active laser seeker and a Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator (DSMAC) for improved terminal accuracy in poor weather. The bomb is 177.6 inches long, with a body diameter of 18 inches and a wingspan of 64.2 inches when deployed. Its total weight is approximately 2,130 pounds, and it can be launched from altitudes as low as 200 feet, achieving a published standoff range of over 10 nautical miles.

Variants

* **GBU-24A/B**: The original baseline model using the BLU-109 warhead. * **GBU-24B/B**: An improved version with enhanced fuzing options. * **GBU-24C/B**: A variant developed for the United States Navy and compatible with the F/A-18 Hornet. * **GBU-24D/B**: Incorporates the improved BLU-116 Advanced Unitary Penetrator warhead. * **GBU-24E/B**: A proposed variant with a GPS-aided inertial navigation system for all-weather capability. * **GBU-27 Paveway III**: A specialized variant with a shorter, lighter airframe designed for internal carriage on the F-117 Nighthawk.

Operators

* : Used by the Royal Australian Air Force on its F-111C and later F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft. * : Operated by the Israeli Air Force on its F-15I Ra'am and F-16I Sufa fighters. * : Used by the Royal Saudi Air Force. * : In service with the Republic of Korea Air Force. * : Used by the Royal Air Force as part of its Paveway IV procurement and integration program. * : Primary operator, used by the United States Air Force, United States Navy, and United States Marine Corps.

Category:Guided bombs of the United States Category:Raytheon Category:1986 introductions