GBU-12 PAVEWAY IIFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-12_Paveway_II
500 lb (227 kg) unpowered guided weapon
Length: 10 ft 9 in (3.27 m)
Diameter: 11 in (273 mm)
Range: More than 8 NM (14.8 km)
Unit cost: $19,000
U.S. Navy crewmen loading GBU-12s onto an F-14The GBU-12 PAVEWAY II laser-guided bomb is an American aerial bomb, based on the Mk 82 500-pound general-purpose bomb, but with the addition of a nose-mounted laser seeker and fins for guidance.
A member of the PAVEWAY series of weapons, PAVEWAY II entered into service c. 1976. It is currently in service with U.S. Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps, Canadian Forces Air Command, Colombian Air Force, and various NATO air forces.
GBU-12 bombs (along with the balance of the PAVEWAY series) are produced by defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
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"Paveway II" refers specifically to the guidance kit, rather than to the weapon itself.
See also GBU-16 Paveway II, where the same guidance unit is fitted to a Mk 83 1000 lb bomb.
The US Government has upgraded GBU-12 production versions to include GPS guidance modes.
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Laser-guided bombs are often labeled "smart bombs" because they are able to follow a non-ballistic trajectory when laser designation of the intended target is undertaken.
According to Raytheon's fact sheet (…) a circular error probable (CEP) of only 3.6 feet
versus a CEP of 310 feet for 99 unguided bombs dropped under similar conditions.
Paveway II laser guided bombs use what is known as "bang bang" guidance.
This means the bomb's fins deflect fully, rather than proportionally when it is attempting to guide to the laser spot.
For example, if it sees the laser spot and determines that it should make a change it deflects its fins until it has over-corrected and then it deflects back the opposite direction creating a sinusoidal type of flight path.
This type of guidance may be less efficient at times.
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GUIDED BOMB UNIT-12 (GBU-12)
PAVEWAY II
Military Analysis Network
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/gbu-12.htm
The Guided Bomb Unit-12 (GBU-12) utilizes a 500-pound general purpose warhead.
The operator illuminates a target with a laser designator and then the munition guides to a spot of laser energy reflected from the target.
The munition was used during Operation Desert Storm, and, according to the Air Force, hit 88 percent of its targets.
During Desert Storm the GBU-12 was dropped by F-lllFs, F-15Es, and A-6s, mostly against fixed armor.
It was the F-111F tank-busting weapon of choice.
Of the 4,493 GBU-12s employed, over half were dropped by the F-lllF.
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PAVEWAY™ LASER GUIDED BOMB (LGB)
http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/paveway/
The Paveway™ family of laser guided bombs has revolutionized tactical air-to-ground warfare by converting "dumb" bombs into precision guided munitions. Paveway™ bombs have been put to the test in every major conflict and proved themselves, time and again, as the weapon of choice by the end-users. Paveways made up more than half the air-to-ground precision guided weapons used in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Newer versions of Paveway™ include GPS/INS guidance capabilities. This innovation combines the accuracy and flexibility of traditional laser-guided weapons with the all-weather capability of GPS guidance, resulting in a weapon that decreases the required sortie count and weapon inventory while simultaneously increasing the mission success rate.
WHEN FREEDOM STRIKES, IT STRIKES WITH PRECISION
Raytheon provides the world's most comprehensive portfolio of air warfare systems that enable military commanders to shape the battlespace and achieve decisive victory. Backed by a 30-year record of proven performance, Raytheon solutions deliver cutting-edge responsiveness, accuracy and effects on target. Raytheon's air warfare systems can be launched from a wide variety of aircraft, ships and ground locations, and can be integrated easily with existing systems. Regardless of the platform, or the mission requirement, Raytheon helps give the warfighter a significant tactical advantage
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Raising The Bar For Low Cost Precision Guided Bombs
PAVEWAY II PLUS LASER GUIDED BOMB (LGB)
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/pavewayIIpluslaserguidedbomb/index.html
The Paveway II Plus LGB is the latest development in the Lockheed Martin paveway II family of laser guided weapons. The updated guidance package inside the MAU-209C/B computer control group (CCG) provides precise, accurate target impacts, ensuring more bombs on target!
The aerodynamic properties, exterior dimensions, and overall weapon mass properties of the MAU-209C/B CCG remain the same as existing paveway II CCGs. The MAU-209C/B CCB can be used in all paveway II weapon configurations and is compatible with the MK 80 series and BLU-109 warheads. The state-of-the-art guidance system converts conventional gravity bombs into precision guided munitions. A semi-active laser seeker and pneumatically-controlled canards guide the weapon. The air foil group (AFG) includes extending wings to provide lift and stability.
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PAVEWAY II PLUS LGB
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/mfc/PC/MFC_PC_pavewayIIplusLGB-AF.pdf
Paveway II Plus LGB is the latest development in the Lockheed Martin paveway II family of laser guided weapons.
The updated guidance package inside the MAU-209C/B computer control group (CCG) provides precise, accurate target impacts, ensuring more bombs on target!
The aerodynamic properties, exterior dimensions, and overall weapon mass properties of the MAU-209C/B CCG remain the same as existing paveway II CCGs.
The MAU-209C/B CCG can be used in all paveway II weapon configurations and is compatible with the MK 80 series and BLU-109 warheads.
The state-of-the-art guidance system converts conventional gravity bombs into precision guided munitions.
A semi-active laser seeker and pneumatically-controlled canards guide the weapon. The air foil group (AFG) includes extending wings to provide lift and stability.
The paveway II Plus LGB can be carried and released from all U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy manned and unmanned aircraft currently carrying LGBs, and from international platforms authorized to carry and release paveway II LGBs. The paveway II Plus LGB is compatible with existing paveway II LGB logistics infrastructure, handling equipment, procedures and aircrew operations.
BENEFITS
• Interchangeable, interoperable with existing CCGs and AFGs
• Affordable, best-value design
• No impact on aircraft software, ballistics tables or operational tactics
• Longer release range compared to tail control weapons
• Glass detector lens prevents pitting encountered with a plastic lens
• Aluminum detector housing prevents moisture intrusion and lens clouding that can occur with a composite detector housing
• High, out-of-box reliability
• 10-year shelf-life
• Uses existing LGB logistics support
• Compatible with existing test sets: TTU-373, TTU-550, TTU-594, TTU-595
• MAU-209C/B CCG is field programmable, allowing easy installation of future capability
• Future development includes moving target capability, INS/GPS guidance, impact controls, and trajectory shaping.
Lockheed Martin has produced paveway II LGB guidance systems and laser guided training rounds since 1990. More than 150,000 systems have been delivered to domestic and international users.
Paveway II Plus LGB is the best, low-cost solution for accurate engagement of high-value targets.
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GUIDED BOMB UNIT-12 (GBU-12)
PAVEWAY II
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/gbu-12.htm
The Guided Bomb Unit-12 (GBU-12) utilizes a Mk82 500-pound general purpose warhead. The operator illuminates a target with a laser designator and then the munition guides to a spot of laser energy reflected from the target.
The GBU-12 is a member of the Paveway II series of laser guided bombs (LGBs). These weapons are hybrids.
At the core of each is a bomb: a 500-pound Mk 82 for the GBU-12, a 1,000-pound Mk 83 for the GBU-16 and a 2,000-pound Mk 84 for the GBU-10.
A laser guidance kit is integrated with each bomb to add the requisite degree of precision. The kit consists of a computer control group at the front end of the weapon and an airfoil group at the back.
When a target is illuminated by a laser - either airborne or ground-based - the guidance fins (canards) react to signals from the control group and steer the weapon to the target. Wings on the airfoil group add the lift and aerodynamic stability necessary for in-flight maneuvering.
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An aircraft using an unguided general-purpose (GP) 500-pound (lb) bomb (i.e., a Mk-82) to attack a dug-in tank has a low probability of success in comparison to a laser-guided 500 lb weapon (i.e., a GBU-12) because the accuracy of the latter is much better.
Tank plinking, expending a single 500-pound GBU-12 worth $10,000 to destroy a $1.5 million T-72 tank, is not a bad return on tax dollars.
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Specifically, GPS guidance can be used for all-weather attacks of known targets; and laser guidance provides an option for improved accuracy, man-in-the-loop, moving targets, and targets of opportunity when GPS is denied.
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On 07 June 2006 two F-16Cs dropped two precision-guided 500-pound bombs - a GBU-12 laser-guided bomb and a GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition - destroying the terrorist safe house where Al Zarqawi and other terrorists were meeting.
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