GBU-24 Paveway III

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. 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 Paveway III laser guided bombs represent the third generation of LGBs and provide optimum operational flexibility through the use of an adaptive digital auto-pilot, large field of regard, and a highly sensitive seeker. They adapt to release conditions, flying the appropriate midcourse and correcting the trajectory to provide enhanced warhead effectiveness. The GBU-24 consists of a MK-84 2,000 pound (1,000 kg) bomb with an improved laser guidance package. The MK-84 bomb can be replaced by a BLU-109 warhead and eventually by other penetration bombs. The GBU-24 was designed to engage targets in low altitude and with greater standoff ranges delivery conditions. The GBU-24 has larger wings for enhanced maneuverability.

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