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| GBU-24 Paveway III |
| Primary Function: |
2,350 lb (1,066 kg) unpowered guided weapon |
| Length: |
14 ft 2in (4.32 m) |
| Diameter: |
14.6 in (370 mm) |
| Range: |
More than 10 nm (18.4 km) |
Advanced American Paveway III series laser-guided bomb, based on the Mk 84 general-purpose bomb, but with laser seeker and wings for guidance. Its guidance path is more efficient than its Paveway II series equivalent, the GBU-10C (also has Mk 84 explosives) and so has slightly longer range. Introduced into service c. 1983. Several versions are available: the GBU-24A/B, the GBU-24B/B, which uses the BLU-109/B hardened penetrator for "bunker-busting" attacks, and the GBU-24E/B Enhanced Paveway Laser-Guided Bomb, which adds a GPS antenna, giving the option of GPS/INS guidance to supplement the semi-active laser guidance. Used by USAF, US Navy, US Marine Corps, and various NATO air forces. Delivery of the bomb starts when a laser (from ground personnel or aircraft) illuminates the target via a laser targeting pod and the bomb is released from the aircraft with a suitable flightpath. The bomb then picks up the laser signal at the illuminated target and is guided by the laser targeting pod or TGP. The target must stay illumiated by laser until the target has been destroyed. If not, the bomb follows a free-fall trajectory much like an iron bomb. The GBU-24 while guided, is not a powered weapon (has no propulsion). Its range depends on aircraft speed, altitude, wind speed, etc. The GBU-24 (and other weapons in the GBU range) are effective air-to-ground munitions known to have been precise enough to be able to fly down ventilation shafts into enemy bunkers. Aircraft such as the F-111F, F-14D, F-15E, F-16C Block 40/42, F-16A MLU, F-16C Block 50/52 CCIP and F-18s are capable of carrying this weapon, although some may require an external targeting pod to be fitted to the lower surfaces of the aircraft or attached to one of the weapons pylons.
