The RAF and RN are to receive what has been acclaimed as the world's most advanced 'smart' bomb, under a planned $200 million contract announced by Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach on 12 June. This is the Paveway 4, selected to meet the RAF's precision guided bomb (PGB) requirement.
Raytheon's Paveway 4 is based on the current enhanced Paveway, with dual laser and GPS guidance, ensuring maximum accuracy, flexibility and versatility in a range of conditions.
The new dual mode seeker and control fins (used by the current enhanced Paveway) will be fitted to a 500lb bomb body, which offers greater carriage options than today's 1,000lb (450kg) and 2,000lb Paveway 2s and Paveway 3s, as well as a reduced risk of collateral damage.
The new bomb could be carried with ease by Jaguars or carrier-borne Harrier GR7s, which struggle with a current 2,000lb Paveway 3 in hot and high conditions.
Lasers
The laser gives the new bomb resistance to enemy jamming, while the GPS (which incorporates new anti-spoofing and anti-jamming technology) is unaffected by poor weather conditions, dust or man-made smoke screens. The RAF's Tornados and Harriers dropped 360 enhanced Paveways during Operation Iraqi Freedom (and 255 'legacy' Paveway 2s and 3s).
A larger number of enhanced Paveways had already been dropped on Iraqi targets during the run-up to the war. They proved extremely accurate and several could be dropped simultaneously on closely spaced targets, as there was no need to leave a time interval to 'let the dust settle'.
The Paveway IV bomb will also contain a highly advanced 'late arm' fuse system, which will prevent the weapon from exploding unless the guidance system confirms that it is on course, serviceable and unjammed. If the weapon is not on target, is unserviceable or is not being jammed the fuse will not arm and the warhead will not explode, even after impact from high level.
The USAF still relies on single-mode 'smart' bombs, including Paveway II and III laser guided bombs and JDAM GPS-guided weapons.
Job creationIt is expected that the Precision Guided Bomb will enter service in 2006 or 2007, equipping the Tornado GR4, the Harrier GR9 and Typhoon, and perhaps any remaining Jaguars.
Integrating this UK-only weapon on the RAF and RN's new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters will require a high degree of access to the aircraft's software code, though it would not present major technical difficulties. The $500 million programme will create or sustain 200 UK jobs, with Raytheon Systems in Glenrothes, Fife, Thales in Basingstoke, Portsmouth Aviation and with MBM Technologies in Brighton.
Source: Flight Daily News
