Paveway IV Bomb

Full Specifications

Paveway IV Precision Guided Bomb System

The Paveway IV is a modern precision guided bomb designed for accurate air to ground strikes in complex combat environments. Built for today’s air forces, it focuses on precision, flexibility, and reduced collateral damage during close support and strike missions.

Developed by Raytheon UK, the Paveway IV entered service in the late 2000s and has become a standard guided weapon for the Royal Air Force and allied air arms. While not a US inventory weapon, it is widely integrated on US made aircraft operated by partner nations, making it relevant to American defense planning and interoperability.

Design and Capabilities

Paveway IV combines GPS and laser guidance into a single weapon, allowing pilots to switch guidance modes during flight. This dual mode system ensures effectiveness in poor weather, urban terrain, or against moving targets. The bomb uses a low yield high explosive warhead optimized for precision strikes with limited blast radius.

The weapon can be released from high or low altitude and supports multiple fuze settings, including airburst, impact, and delayed detonation. Its guidance kit allows for high accuracy, often within a few meters of the target, reducing risk to nearby forces and civilians.

Operational Use and Integration

Paveway IV is cleared on platforms such as the F 35B, Typhoon FGR4, Tornado GR4, and other NATO aircraft. It has seen extensive combat use in the Middle East, supporting counterterrorism operations and close air support missions.

Its small size and flexible guidance make it suitable for internal carriage on stealth aircraft, supporting survivability and mission success in contested airspace.

Paveway IV Bomb Price

The estimated unit cost of the Paveway IV bomb ranges between 40,000 and 50,000 US dollars depending on guidance kit configuration, production volume, and support packages. Pricing reflects precision guidance components rather than the bomb body itself.