GBU-16 Paveway II

The GBU-16 Paveway II is an American laser-guided munition developed from a program initiated in 1964. The name Pave is an acronym for precision avionics vectoring equipment. The United States Air Force formalized the engineering effort under Project 3169 in 1967 to develop precision-guided munitions. This effort resulted in the Paveway I series, which was succeeded in the early 1970s by the Paveway II. The GBU-16 entered service around 1976.

The system consists of a Mk 83 general-purpose bomb modified with a laser seeker and wing assembly. Technical components include a semi-active laser seeker, a computer control group containing guidance and control electronics, a thermal battery, and a pneumatic control augmentation system. The munition utilizes front control canards and pop-out rear wings for stability and glide performance. Guidance is achieved by detecting reflected laser energy, or "sparkle," from a designating laser, which the seeker uses to actuate the canards. The control augmentation system employs "bang-bang" logic, commanding large canard deflections for course corrections, which results in a wobble during flight. This guidance method yields a circular error probability of 3.6 feet (1.1 m) for 99 deliveries, compared to 310 feet (94 m) for 99 unguided bombs dropped under similar conditions. Due to the energy expenditure caused by the control system's course corrections, the munition is typically released in a ballistic trajectory with the laser designator activated late in the flight to refine the impact point. The GBU-16 can be upgraded to the GBU-48 Enhanced Paveway II configuration through the addition of a GPS receiver, enabling dual-mode guidance and all-weather employment.

The munition is operated by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and various NATO air forces. It is integrated onto a wide range of platforms, including the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-35, and A-10, as well as international aircraft such as the Mirage 2000, Tornado, and Rafale. The weapon is also deployed on the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle.