GBU-27 Paveway III

The GBU-27 Paveway III is a laser-guided bomb system derived from the GBU-24 Paveway III. It was redesigned for integration with the F-117A Nighthawk stealth ground attack aircraft. The system utilizes the BLU-109 penetrating warhead for bunker-busting operations and employs laser guidance for precision strikes. An enhanced version, the EGBU-27, has also been deployed. During the First Gulf War, aircrews designated the weapon as the "Hammer" due to its destructive power and blast radius.

The GBU-27 was first used in combat during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. On February 13, 1991, the munition was used in an attack on the Amiriyah shelter. It was also employed against the Muthanna State Enterprise site during the same month. In 1999, during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, two GBU-27s were used to destroy the Avala Tower near Belgrade. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the United States Air Force dropped 98 EGBU-27s.

The weapon has been exported to several countries. Israel was the first foreign customer, with an acquisition of units equipped with BLU-109 penetrating warheads authorized in 2004. Deliveries of precision-guided weaponry were accelerated in 2006. While other precision-guided munitions were used in the 2006 Lebanon War, Israeli military sources indicate the technology in the GBU-27 is intended for potential use against targets in Iran or Syria. The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force also ordered the GBU-27 in 2011 for use during operations in Libya.