OVERVIEW: The GBU-12X/B Paveway II DMLGB (Dual Mode Laser Guided Bomb) is a laser and GPS guided bomb (LGB).


DETAILS: The GBU-12X/B Paveway II 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 Mk82 gravity bomb. This converts the Mk82 into a laser-guided weapon that homes in on a reflected laser beam transmitted from a ground or air-based laser designator. A Paveway II-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 II-series has limited standoff capabilities. The GPS receiver allows employment of the GBU-12X in all weather.


NOTES: Existing LGBs in US service can be upgraded to GBU-12X/B DMLGB standards.



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 ; Paveway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paveway