Paveway - Paveway III

The PAVEWAY III(UK) is a COMBAT PROVEN laser guided, high penetration ballistic weapon system with a 908 kg (2000 lb) warhead. Also available in training weapon variants as a Practice round and a Drill round, the weapon can be delivered by various aircraft.

Weapon ancillaries provide a variety of suspension interfaces that are required to attach the weapon to aircraft either by conventional twin suspension bale lugs at 355.6 mm (14 in) or 762 mm (30 in) centres or by the twin suspension MACE system at 762 mm (30 in) centres. The weapon comprises a high explosive BLU-109(UK) penetrator bomb fitted with a Multi-Function Bomb Fuze, a Guidance and Control Unit and a tail secured by a bomb adaptor ring.

The tail unit, modified by PA to accommodate the Multi-Function Bomb Fuze, provides stowage for arming components, ballast, fuze arming and aerodynamic lift from the rear wings when they are deployed. A modified aft fairing ensures a smooth airflow at the rear of the tail unit and is slotted to allow the stowage of the wings before terminating at the multibladed arming vane.

The tail unit consists a main wing assembly housing the wing operating spider, dampers, 4 springs, wing latch and four wings. Also fitted in the tail unit are the Slave Battery Pack, and the arming mechanism (designed and manufactured by PA) with various shearwires. The rear wing assembly spider and linkage assembly allows the wings to be retracted into the fairing while a set of 4 coil springs are compressed and held by the wing release latch. Tripping the latch releases the spider, the springs push the spider and linkage assembly thereby moving the wings to the extended and flight position. The wing release latch and arming mechanism are activated by shearwires when the weapon is released from the aircraft.

A Bomb Adaptor Ring manufactured by PA is fitted to the tail unit to provide ballast in aid of the weapon’s flight characteristics; it also acts as a spacer to allow fitment of the Multi-Function Bomb Fuze. A Slave battery pack is fitted to the Bomb Adaptor Ring and provides additional electrical power to the Fuze, thereby allowing for the extended flight time of the weapon.

The Guidance and Control Unit mounts on the nose of the warhead by means of a Forward Adaptor Assembly and provides autopilot control, target detection and weapon guidance functions. At target acquisition the weapon locks-on to a laser illuminated target and the Guidance and Control Unit alters the flight path of the weapon for impact on target.

The fuze fitted is a standard Fuze No 960 Mk 2 MFBF in UK Armed Forces service.

Overall length: 4445 mm (175 in)
Overall diameter (wings stowed): 914 mm (36 in)
Overall diameter (wings deployed): 2048 mm (80.62 in)
Gross weight (depending on aircraft configuration): 1135 kg (2503 lb) to 1156 kg (2549 lb )