Enhanced Paveway in service with RAF

[cpt007]

Does anyone know the number of enhanced paveway in service with RAF,daegel reported that RAF used 500 of those during operation enduring freedom.
Is the above true??
below is the daegel link:

EGBU-27 Paveway III / Enhanced Paveway III, EP3

 

[Aussie Digger]

Does anyone know the number of enhanced paveway in service with RAF,daegel reported that RAF used 500 of those during operation enduring freedom.
Is the above true??
below is the daegel link:

EGBU-27 Paveway III / Enhanced Paveway III, EP3

Weapon stocks are usually a fairly closely guarded secret by most nations. United States FMS announcements usually indicate "initial" purchases of weapon stocks with further purchases not usually requiring announcements being made for follow-on purchases of the same weapons and kit. Direct Commercial Sales often aren't announced at all, or if they are only relate to overall contract price, without quantities announced.

If the UK was able to drop more than 500 weapons on operations, then you can bet they had and have an inventory many thousand strong.

Regards,

AD

 

[cpt007]

Weapon stocks are usually a fairly closely guarded secret by most nations. United States FMS announcements usually indicate "initial" purchases of weapon stocks with further purchases not usually requiring announcements being made for follow-on purchases of the same weapons and kit. Direct Commercial Sales often aren't announced at all, or if they are only relate to overall contract price, without quantities announced.

If the UK was able to drop more than 500 weapons on operations, then you can bet they had and have an inventory many thousand strong.

Regards,

AD

Actually the problem is I don't trust the credibility of deagel so I want to know if anyone can tell me an approximate but authentic number that misses the exact mark even by a few hundreds.I am asking all this because I just came to know that enhanced paveway has a 900 kg warhead!!! which is awesome!!

 

[kato]

Eh, Britain has probably the most confusing Paveway collection outside the US. The EPW1, EPW2, EPW3 and other early Paveway variants are basically only being used anymore until stocks deplete, since by 2012/2013 all aircraft are supposed to be wired for Paveway IV (i'll believe it when i see it - ditching the Harriers that were already wired for it as the only model in the RAF didn't help of course).

It's similar to how France has been throwing around massive amounts of EPW2 in Afghanistan in the last couple years waiting for AASM to be ready.

As for numbers - low four-digit. Altogether. Also, 2,000-lb bombs aren't exactly rare.

 

[Bonza]

I am asking all this because I just came to know that enhanced paveway has a 900 kg warhead!!! which is awesome!!

900 kilograms? That sounds awfully large for anything in the Paveway family... aren't they all 2000, 1000 and 500 pounders? You're not going to get a 900kg warhead on any of those (I think the 2000 pounder has about a 400kg warhead), unless I'm missing something?

 

[kato]

You're not going to get a 900kg warhead on any of those (I think the 2000 pounder has about a 400kg warhead), unless I'm missing something?

900 kg = 2000 lbs.

For a warhead, you always count the whole package - not the explosives load...

 

[Bonza]

900 kg = 2000 lbs.

For a warhead, you always count the whole package, not the explosives load...

Ah, I wasn't aware of that. Good to know, thanks very much Kato.

 

[cpt007]

900 kilograms? You're not going to get a 900kg warhead on any of those (I think the 2000 pounder has about a 400kg warhead), unless I'm missing something?

I suggest that you go first and read the official RAF website about enhanced paveway before coming to your own conclusion!!

 

[Bonza]

I suggest that you go first and read the official RAF website about enhanced paveway before coming to your own conclusion!!

Already had my conclusion corrected by Kato, but thanks for the recommendation matey.

 

[cpt007]

Already had my conclusion corrected by Kato, but thanks for the recommendation matey.

My point is there is a line that clearly states that EPW III has a 900 kg class penetrator warhead.hence my initial post.

 

[cpt007]

Eh, Britain has probably the most confusing Paveway collection outside the US. The EPW1, EPW2, EPW3 and other early Paveway variants are basically only being used anymore until stocks deplete, since by 2012/2013 all aircraft are supposed to be wired for Paveway IV .

From RAF website I don't see that EPW III is going to get replaced by PW IV,is that the case and if so source.thx

 

[Bonza]

My point is there is a line that clearly states that EPW III has a 900 kg class penetrator warhead.hence my initial post.

Kind of sounds to me like you're splitting hairs over something that Kato already answered, but either way, all good. I hope some posters on here can help you out with your query.

 

[Aussie Digger]

Actually the problem is I don't trust the credibility of deagel so I want to know if anyone can tell me an approximate but authentic number that misses the exact mark even by a few hundreds.I am asking all this because I just came to know that enhanced paveway has a 900 kg warhead!!! which is awesome!!

Enhanced Paveways don't actually have a warhead. What Enhanced Paveways are is a guidance and in some configurations, range enhancement kit that can be attached to a standard gravity bomb body.

They are analogous to Laser JDAM's in that sense. They provide laser and/or GPS/INS guidance to an otherwise un-guided weapon.

They can be attached to a variety of gravity bombs. Not all have a 900kg (2000lbs) bomb body attached. There are also 250kg (500lbs) and 450kg (1000lbs) variants, though I am not sure if the UK uses all of those variants.

Deagal is fairly reliable, because most of the time they are simply re-stating official Government or Corporate releases.

 

[Aussie Digger]

From RAF website I don't see that EPW III is going to get replaced by PW IV,is that the case and if so source.thx

Paveway IV is a much smaller weapon than an EPWIII with a 900kg bomb body attached.

PWIV only has a 225kg warhead, so it may not replace a 900kg weapon. Plenty of Airforces operate both classes of weapons in their inventory and I'd be surprised if the RAF didn't.

 

[cpt007]

Enhanced Paveways don't actually have a warhead. What Enhanced Paveways are is a guidance and in some configurations, range enhancement kit that can be attached to a standard gravity bomb body.

They are analogous to Laser JDAM's in that sense. They provide laser and/or GPS/INS guidance to an otherwise un-guided weapon.

They can be attached to a variety of gravity bombs. Not all have a 900kg (2000lbs) bomb body attached. There are also 250kg (500lbs) and 450kg (1000lbs) variants, though I am not sure if the UK uses all of those variants.

Deagal is fairly reliable, because most of the time they are simply re-stating official Government or Corporate releases.

From what I read above and what kato has written warhead(bomb body) is explosives plus everything else is that correct,if so what is the region that contains only explosives

 

[Aussie Digger]

From what I read above and what kato has written warhead(bomb body) is explosives plus everything else is that correct,if so what is the region that contains only explosives

Have a look at this link:

http://www.deagel.com/library1/medium/m02006120900045.jpg

It comprises:

1. A 500lb bomb.

2. The Enhanced Paveway II guidance kit and drag/steering fins and mounting lugs.

The vast majority of the weight is in the bomb body that the kit straps on to. The "weight" of the weapon refers to the size of the bomb, that the kit straps on to.

Each "EPW" will have a formal designation. Some nations refer to them as Enhanced Paveway II - EGBU-10, with a 2000lbs bomb unit, EGBU-12 - 500lbs bomb unit and so on.

Other use the US designation GBU-49 and GBU-50 and so on. A bit confusing I know, but that is military terminology for you.