The Precision Guided Bomb Integrated Project Team is responsible for procuring a low-cost, all-weather, 24-hour general purpose bombing capability for the RAF.

Raytheon Systems Limited’s Paveway IV was selected as the weapon of choice following an international competition and will initially be integrated onto Harrier GR9, followed by further integration programmes for Typhoon and Tornado GR4. There is also an aspiration to integrate Paveway IV onto Joint Combat Aircraft.

Once Paveway IV is accepted into service, responsibility for the Paveway IV Weapon System will be transferred to the Air Launched Munitions IPT.

The IPT is also responsible for the Adaptable Bomb Fuse programme which will replace the Paveway III Multi-Function Bomb Fuse currently in service.

Precision Guided Bomb (PGB) Weapon System (Paveway IV)

Paveway IV has been developed to meet the requirements of the MoD's PGB programme while avoiding the usual risks associated with all-new weapon development.


Enhanced Paveway has already achieved a strong reputation for reliability and accuracy and Paveway IV exploits these qualities further. Paveway IV provides a state-of-the-art, all-weather precision munition that is easy to integrate on current and future aircraft".

For extreme accuracy Paveway IV utilises second-generation, state-of-the-art GPS aided inertial navigation that incorporates anti-spoofing and anti-jamming technology.

It also offers greater flexibility of operation. The weapon has evolved from Enhanced Paveway, which the RAF has already fielded operationally. For the PGB programme Paveway IV guidance kits will be fitted to 500lb warheads. The Paveway IV guidance kits can also be easily fitted to different sized warheads.

Paveway IV is a joint programme between RSL in the UK and Raytheon Missile Systems (RMS) in Tucson, Arizona.

RMS will provide systems engineering while RSL in Glenrothes, Scotland, will manufacture the guidance and control system as well as undertaking complete system integration.

Raytheon's UK Paveway Team also includes Portsmouth Aviation Limited (tail and containers) and MBM Technology in Brighton (suspension interface and containers). Thales Missile Electronics Ltd in Basingstoke will be developing and manufacturing the Multi-Event Hard Target Fuse, a state-of-the-art 'intelligence' fuse with full cockpit interface. RSL in Harlow, Essex, will be responsible for programme management and RSL Bedford for in-service support.

During Operation Telic allied forces used more Paveway weapons than any other guided munitions. These included the very successful introduction of the dual-mode (Laser and GPS) Enhanced Paveway as well as the standard laser guided version of Paveway.

The Precision Guided Bomb will enter service in 2007, replacing existing dumb and laser guided bombs. The much larger, 2000-lb, Paveway III series will remain in service because of their special abilities in defeating hardened and deeply buried targets.

The PGB will weigh 500-lb (half the weight of most existing bombs). Unlike laser guided bombs they are able to 'see' through clouds with their integrated Global Positioning Systems - enabling them to hit targets whatever the weather or visibility conditions.

Up to 200 jobs will be created or sustained across the UK, including at the Raytheon Systems Ltd plant in Glenrothes, Fife, Portsmouth Aviation Ltd, MBM Technologies in Brighton and at Thales in Basingstoke.


The PGB will equip a wide variety of aircraft, including the Tornado GR4, Harrier GR9 and Typhoon.

The PGB will have one of the world's most advanced fuzes fitted with the 'Late-Arm' safety device, which will not arm an off-course munition.

It will also be fitted with the warheads designed to meet the latest requirements of NATO Insensitive Munition safety policy.



The value of the contract to Raytheon Systems Ltd, subject to successful completion of negotiations, is expected to be around £120M.


 

Crown Copyright - www.mod.uk