Ministry of Defence
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Paving the way: The latest weapon against the Taliban
A next-generation precision guided bomb that can hit targets 24 hours a day and in all-weathers has entered service with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as part of a £400M programme.
The weapon, known as Paveway IV will be fitted to the Harrier GR9s, Tornado GR4s, Typhoon and ultimately the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
The highly sophisticated weapon, provided by Raytheon Systems Ltd, UK, can be guided on to a target through use of Global Positioning System satellite technology or through laser guidance.
Pilots can programme the weapon from the cockpit from the ground for pre-planned missions or while the aircraft is in flight using data provided by the aircraft's on-board sensors. The Paveway IV can also be reprogrammed mid-flight should targets alter or to reflect changes to conditions on the ground.
Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:
"Paveway IV is providing our Armed Forces with the very best technology for operations with its all-weather, day and night precision bombing capability. The Paveway IV's sophisticated guidance system and sensors will give new levels of flexibility to our pilots allowing them to switch targets mid-flight and rapidly respond to changing factors on the ground. This is a highly sophisticated weapon which will be used across our fast jet fleet from Harriers, Tornados to Typhoons."
The Defence Equipment and Support project team leader Captain Howard Holdsworth, Royal Navy said:
"Paveway IV will provide those at the front line with a hugely flexible and very welcome capability. This is the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work on the part of the stakeholder community, both in the MoD and Industry. We can be justifiably proud of our achievements; Paveway IV is a very capable weapon system indeed."
The weapon, known as Paveway IV, is half the weight of the current Enhanced Paveway 2 weapon currently used on Harriers and Tornado GR4s.
The weapon is fitted with a proximity sensor for detonation of the weapon above target. This allows the pilot to select the best means of maximising the effect of the 500lb (227kg) warhead.
Notes to Editors
1. The GPS-aided inertial guidance system provides a through-cloud precision bombing capability. Targets can also be manually programmed using target coordinates provided by Forward Air Controllers (FACs). Pilots can also guide the weapon on to a target using ground-based or airborne laser designation.
2. Raytheon Systems Limited (RSL), UK is the Coordinating Design Organisation and Prime Contractor for the Weapon System, with Raytheon Missile Systems (RMS), Tucson responsible for the design of the Warhead. General Dynamics, Dallas is responsible for warhead case manufacture and SEI, SpA, Sardinia provides the explosive fill. RMS also design and manufacture the Weapon Guidance Section and Thales Missile Electronics, Basingstoke are responsible for the design and manufacture of the Fuze.
3. RSL was awarded a £140M contract in December 2003 for the Design, Development and Manufacture of the Weapon System. A further £50M contract was placed at the same time with BAE Systems, Farnborough, for the integration of the weapon onto Harrier GR9/9A. Integration contracts valued at a further £100M have recently been placed with BAE Systems, Warton and Eurofighter GmbH for integration of the weapon onto Tornado GR4 and Typhoon respectively.
4. For further info please call Liz Tayler, MoD DE&S Press Office, on 0117 9137888.
ENDS
