Description:
The Laser Guided Bombs (LGB) were introduced in 1968 to meet the requirements for precision guided bombs of the US military. The semi-active LGBs home on reflected laser beam energy directed on the target. The target illumination can be done by the launching aircraft, by a third aircraft or by ground-based troops operating a laser designator. The LGBs are in fact a laser guidance kit applicable to current conventional unguided bombs. United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF) was the first operator to drop Paveway II bombs in combat during the conflict of the Falklands in 1982.
The Laser Guided Bombs have reduced the number of weapons requested to destroy a single target while enhancing accuracy, reliability and cost-effectiveness in strike missions. The LGBs were introduced during Vietnam and afterward they have been employed over Panama, Iraq, the former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. The United States and 31 nations of the world have ordered Paveway bombs and more than 125,000 Paveway II kits have been produced to date.
The GBU-16 Paveway II consists of a MK-83 1000 pound (500 kg) bomb with an added laser guidance package. It can engage the same targets engaged by the GBU-10s but minimizing potential collateral damage.
Despite the original contractor for the Paveway II LGB bomb was Raytheon, Lockheed-Martin began assembly Paveway II laser guidance kits in the early years of the 21st century in support of the Global War on Terror and the military campaigns in Iraq (Iraqi Freedom 2003-20??) and Afghanistan (Enduring Freedom 2001). As of September 2005, Lockheed Martin had delivered more than 25,000 guidance kits for the GBU-10, GBU-12 and GBU-16 guided-precision bombs.
Specifications Dimensions: Diameter 360 mm, Length 3.7 m, Width 1.6 m
Weights: Max Weight 495 kg (1,091 lb), Warhead 202 kg (445 lb)
Performance: CEP 9 m (30 ft), Max Range 14,800 m (48,556 ft)
Family Members: EGBU-12 Paveway II, EGBU-27 Paveway III, GBU-10 Paveway II, GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-24 Paveway III, GBU-27 Paveway III, GBU-28 Bunker Buster, GBU-28C/B, Paveway II DMLGBApplications
A-10A Thunderbolt II, A-10C Thunderbolt II, AV-8B Harrier II, AV-8B Harrier II Plus, F-14D Tomcat, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15K Slam Eagle, F-16A Fighting Falcon, F-16B Fighting Falcon, F-16C Block 32, F-16C Block 40, F-16C Block 42, F-16C Block 50, F-16C Block 52, F-16C Fighting Falcon, F-16D Block 32, F-16D Block 40, F-16D Block 42, F-16D Block 50, F-16D Block 52, F-16D Fighting Falcon, F-16E Desert Falcon, F-16F Desert Falcon, F-16I Soufa, F/A-18A Hornet, F/A-18B Hornet, F/A-18C Hornet, F/A-18D Hornet, F/A-18E Super Hornet, F/A-18F Super Hornet, Jaguar, Tornado Gr4, Tornado IDS
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