Raytheon Company has completed delivery of more than 200 Paveway™ GBU-50 guidance kits to a European partner.
The GBU-50 provides the 2,000-pound MK-84 or the BLU-109 penetrator with all-weather GPS navigation combined with precision terminal laser guidance. A full range of selectable terminal impact angles combined with a mature combat-proven, height-of-burst maximizes the capabilities of both the MK-84 and BLU-109.
“This delivery is a significant milestone for the Enhanced Paveway™ II program as it provides unique capabilities to our allies,” said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems’ Air Warfare Systems. “As we begin our second production run of the GBU-50, we have substantial interest from the international community.”
Each Enhanced Paveway™ II guidance and control section is compatible with warheads ranging from the 250-pound MK-81 to the 2,000-pound MK-84 along with the BLU-109. There is no need for the warfighter to acquire a different guidance and control section for different warhead use.
About Paveway™ The Paveway™ family of laser-guided and GPS and laser-guided bombs, has revolutionized tactical air-to-ground warfare by converting “dumb” bombs into precision-guided munitions. Bombs equipped with Paveway™ kits have been put to the test and proven themselves time and again. Paveway™ is the weapon of choice for 43 customers. Paveway™ laser-guided bomb kits comprised more than half the air-to-ground precision-guided weapons used in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Unified Protector.
[mappress] Press Release, May 8, 2013; Image: Raytheon