OVERVIEW: The GBU-10/B Paveway I is a laser guided bomb (LGB).


DETAILS: The GBU-10/B Paveway I is intended for precision bombing against non-hardened targets.  It consists of a bolt-on gimballed seeker head and Computer Control Group (CCG) and a stabilizing tail airfoil assembly attached to a conventional Mk84 gravity bomb.   This converts the Mk84 into a laser-guided weapon that homes in on a reflected laser beam transmitted from a ground or air-based laser designator.    A Paveway I-series bomb steers to the target using "bang-bang" guidance, where the control surfaces are always fully deflected.  This results in a relatively inefficient flight path. Consequentially, the Paveway I-series has limited standoff capabilities.  Its sensor also was limited by mist and fog. 


NOTES:    IOC 1970. Used by 17 countries.

 

SOURCES:   Jane's Air Launched Weapons "Paveway (GBU-10/11/12/16/17/24, January 01, 1997 ; Friedman, Norman. The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems, 1997-1998 Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press, 1998, pg. 253-54 ; Laser Guided Bombs (LGB) | NAVAIR - U.S. Navy Naval Air Systems Command - Navy and Marine Corps Aviation Research, Development, Acquisition, Test and Evaluation. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.displayPlatform&key=8ABEFAFF-CF7B-4649-A502-38E4E0A42F37
