MILITARY AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

Part 4

AIRCRAFT BOMBS

Aircraft BombsLaser Guided Bombs

Laser-Guided Bombs are highly accurate weapons used against both moving and stationary targets.

LGB’s can be targeted using either a laser-designation pod, such as LITENING III,

carried by the attacking aircraft, or by a handheld laser designator

carried by ground forces.

LGB’s are vulnerable to smoke, dust and cloud that may obscure the laser guidance beam.

Modern LGB’s have a GPS guidance systemthat allows them to be guided

if a laser is ineffective.

Aircraft BombsGeneral Service Bombs

GP Bombs are Unguided Weaponsthat can be fitted with a variety of fuses to detonate on Impact, in an Airburst

or after a time Delay.

They can be used against structures & vehicles, but they lack any form of guidance

and are vulnerable to the influence of the wind.

This lack of precision means they can’t be used where there is a risk of collateral damage.

As a result, GP Bombs are commonly limited to training use only.

Paveway II LGB

Paveway II LGB

Paveway II is a 500lb precision laser-guided bomb which can be dropped from low or medium level

and homed to its target (the basket) by an airborne Thermal Imaging Airborne Laser Designator pod

(TIALD)or from the ground using a laser designator.

The bomb’s guidance package steers the bomb onto the source

of reflected laser energy.

Enhanced Paveway II adds GPS guidance to allow the weapon to be dropped

through smoke and cloud.

Laser Guided Bomb

Paveway II LGBLaser Guided Bomb

Fitted to :The Typhoon FGR4The Tornado GR4

Dimensions:Length: 3.68mDiameter: 0.42mWeight: 540lb 312kg

Paveway III LGB

Paveway III LGB

Paveway III is a 1,000lb bomb that is designed to penetrate hardened targets.

It is guided by a laser from either ground forces or an aircraft-mounted

laser-designation pod.

Enhanced Paveway III adds GPS guidanceto allow the weapon to be dropped

through smoke and cloud.

Laser Guided Bomb

Paveway III LGBLaser Guided Bomb

Fitted to :The Tornado GR4

Dimensions:Length: 4.45mDiameter: 0.92mWeight: 1000lb 505kg

Paveway IV LGB

Paveway IV LGB

Equipped with the latest Global Positioning Guidance technology,

it is a low-cost, all-weather, 24-hour precision bomb capable of destroying most general-purpose targets

while significantly minimising collateral damage,it replaces the 540lb and 1000lb GP Bombs.

The first platform to receive the weapon was the Harrier GR9, followed by Tornado GR4.

It will enter service on the Typhoon FGR4 in 2013.

Laser Guided Bomb

Paveway IV LGBLaser Guided Bomb

Fitted to :The Typhoon FGR4The Tornado GR4

Dimensions:Length: 3.1mDiameter: 0.42mWeight: 500lb 225kg

BL755 Cluster Bomb

BL755 Cluster Bomb

When BL755 is released it breaks open in the airflow and releases 147 high-explosive bomblets

onto the target, allowing multiple targets to be attacked

with one weapon.

The BL755 is delivered from low-level attacks and used against small, widely dispersed targets

such as vehicles and equipment.

The RBL755 has an enhanced anti-armour capability and can be delivered from a medium-level attack,

allowing aircraft to operate from a safer height.

Freefall, Unguided Bombs

BL755 Cluster Bomb

Fitted to :The Typhoon FGR4The Jaguar GR3The Tornado GR4The Harrier GR7 (Retired)

Dimensions:

Length: 2.45mWidth: 0.41mWeight: 540lb 277kg

General Service Bombs

General Service Bombs

The 540lb and 1000lb General Purpose bombs can be dropped as unguided freefall bombs

or fitted with a retarder unit, allowing aircraft to bomb at low level over the target

and get clear before detonation.

Both bombs have three modes of detonation: Above a target in Airburst Mode,

Impact Detonation, or Post-Impact Detonation after a pre-set delay.

The warheads from GP Bombs can have Paveway laser guidance kits added

to create Laser-Guided Bombs.

Freefall or Retarded, Unguided Bombs

Fitted to :The Jaguar GR3The Harrier GR9 (Retired)

Dimensions:

Length: 2.18mWidth: 0.33mWeight: 540lb 312kg

General Service Bombs540lb General Purpose Bomb

Fitted to :The Typhoon FGR4The Tornado GR4The Harrier GR9 (Retired)

Dimensions:

Length: 2.48mWidth: 0.42mWeight: 1000lb 505kg

General Service Bombs1000lb General Purpose Bomb

Check of UnderstandingWhat best describes how a Paveway II Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) is guided

towards its target on release from an aircraft?

It filters Infrared, radio and laser energy from the battlefield - selecting the strongest source before self designating as in active missile mode.

It provides its own laser source pointed at the target which it follows

into “the basket”.

It uses inertial fly-out before self designating its target.

It acquires coded laser returns and thus guides into “the basket”.

Check of Understanding

Airburst, Impact and Post-impact

Airburst, Ground burst, Proximity burst

Pre-impact, Impact and Post-impact

Retarded, Immediate and Delayed

General Purpose Bombs have three modes of detonation known as:

Check of Understanding

Which of the following best describes how the Paveway II homes onto its target?

It's a Fire-and-Forget missile

Airborne TIALD pod

Internal GPS

Radar Guided by launch aircraft

Check of UnderstandingWhat happens when a BL755 Cluster Bomb

is released from an aircraft?

It fall on the target and then fires off 14

high explosive bomblets.

It falls to the ground and then fires off 147

high explosive bomblets.

It breaks open in the airflow and releases 14 high explosive

bomblets.

It breaks open in the airflow and releases 147

high explosive bomblets.

Check of Understanding

Small, widely dispersed targets

Small targets in close proximity

General purpose bombing

Bombing ships

The BL755 Cluster Bomb is particularly useful for:

MILITARY AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

End of Presentation