Municiones

GBU-27 Paveway III

Also known as
  • GBU-27
  • GBU-27/B
  • GBU-27A/B
  • GBU-27B/B
  • EGBU-27
  • Guided Bomb Unit-27

La GBU-27 Paveway III es una bomba estadounidense guiada por laser de 2.000 libras para blancos duros, derivada de la familia GBU-24 y reconfigurada para transporte interno por el F-117A Nighthawk. Registros de la GAO y GulfLINK describen un penetrador basado en BLU-109 para blancos duros, mientras que informes de la Air Force documentan el uso de la EGBU-27 mejorada por F-117 en la fase inicial de la guerra de Irak de 2003.

GBU-27 Paveway III, Bomba guiada por laser de 2.000 libras para blancos duros, Municiones
Image source: GBU-27 - U.S. Air Force

Role in Conflicts

1999 Kosovo War / Operation Allied Force
Long-Range Strike
Side
NATO

El informe posterior a la accion del Departamento de Defensa sobre Operation Allied Force dice que la mayoria de las armas de ataque directo de la campana fueron bombas guiadas por laser y enumera la GBU-27 entre los tipos de bombas guiadas por laser usados, sin identificar blancos ni cantidades exactas.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Estados Unidos
Built by
Raytheon
Type
Bomba guiada por laser de 2.000 libras para blancos duros
Service note
Entro en servicio en 1987; documentada en combate desde Operation Desert Storm hasta Operation Iraqi Freedom
Designed
1987
Unit cost
$55,000 (production unit cost, 1995 GAO report)
Produced
1987-present
Number built
3,213 listed in 1995 GAO inventory reporting

Specifications

Guia
Guia laser semiactiva; la EGBU-27 anade guia asistida por GPS/INS
Ojiva
Ojiva penetrante BLU-109/B o BLU-116/B
Peso
Aproximadamente 2.170 libras
Longitud
13 ft 10 in
Envergadura
5 ft 5 in
Diametro
2 ft 4 in
Alcance
Mas de 11 millas
Plataforma
Transporte interno del F-117A Nighthawk
Transporte
Dos GBU-27 en las dos bodegas de armas del F-117
Variants

Las designaciones GBU-27 se ubican dentro de la familia Paveway III de 2.000 libras, pero usan una configuracion compacta compatible con el F-117.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
GBU-27/BConfiguracion Paveway III base para el F-117

La configuracion base adapta la familia Paveway III de 2.000 libras para transporte por el F-117, con un grupo de superficies aerodinamicas compacto y una ojiva penetrante.

Sources: Raytheon Paveway III - Designation-Systems.Net, Guided Bomb Unit-27 Smart Weapons

GBU-27A/BUnidad de bomba guiada mejorada

La historia del Air Force Test Center registra la finalizacion en 2000 de la evaluacion de prueba en vuelo del F-117 para la unidad de bomba guiada mejorada GBU-27A/B.

Sources: F-117 Combined Task Force Testing

GBU-27B/BConfiguracion con penetrador BLU-116

Designation-Systems lista la GBU-27B/B como una configuracion GBU-27 mejorada que usa una ojiva penetradora unitaria avanzada BLU-116/B.

Sources: Raytheon Paveway III - Designation-Systems.Net

EGBU-27GBU-27 mejorada asistida por GPS/INS

Informes de la Air Force describen la EGBU-27 como una GBU-27 mejorada con guia satelital anadida al sistema de guia laser.

Sources: Stealth Fighters Use New Munitions To Hit Baghdad, Raytheon Paveway III - Designation-Systems.Net

GBU-24 Paveway III, 2,000-pound-class laser-guided bomb, MunitionsGBU-24 Paveway IIIFamilia Paveway III matriz de 2.000 libras

La GBU-27 se describe como una configuracion derivada de la GBU-24 y modificada para transporte por el F-117.

Sources: Raytheon Paveway III - Designation-Systems.Net, Guided Bomb Unit-27 Smart Weapons

GBU-28 Paveway III, 5,000-pound laser-guided penetrator bomb, MunitionsGBU-28 Paveway IIIArma Paveway III adyacente para blancos duros

La GBU-28, de mayor tamano, fue un arma Paveway III separada para blancos duros, desarrollada despues de que los efectos de la clase BLU-109 se consideraran insuficientes para los bunkeres iraquies endurecidos mas profundos.

Sources: Raytheon Paveway III - Designation-Systems.Net

Warhead Compatibility
Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
BLU-109 penetrator warhead, 2,000-pound hard-target penetrator warhead, MunitionsBLU-109 penetrator warheadOjiva penetradora de 2.000 libras para blancos duros

Material de adquisicion de municiones de la Air Force para FY19 identifica la GBU-27 como uno de los sistemas de armas que usa la ojiva BLU-109.

Sources: Air Force Ammunition Procurement FY19

F-117 Carriage Configuration

La GBU-27 fue configurada en torno al transporte interno del F-117, adaptando la familia Paveway III de 2.000 libras en un arma compacta para blancos duros que podia caber en las bodegas de armas del Nighthawk.

Aeronave portadora

Bodegas internas de armas del F-117A Nighthawk.

Vinculo de familia

Configuracion Paveway III derivada de la GBU-24 con cambios compactos en superficies aerodinamicas y suspension.

Guia mejorada

La EGBU-27 anadio guia satelital para complementar la guia laser cuando el clima o la obstruccion limitaban el seguimiento laser.

Timeline

GBU-27 Paveway III Key Events

  1. GBU-27 enters Air Force service

    La GAO y referencias de la familia Paveway listan 1987 como el primer punto de capacidad o entrada en servicio de la GBU-27.

    Sources: GBU-27 - GAO Weapons Acquisition Report, Raytheon Paveway III - Designation-Systems.Net

  2. Operation Desert Storm combat use

    La GAO registra el uso de la GBU-27 en Operation Desert Storm por aeronaves F-117 contra blancos duros.

    Sources: GBU-27 - GAO Weapons Acquisition Report

  3. Enhanced GBU-27A/B flight-test evaluation

    La historia del Air Force Test Center dice que la F-117 Combined Task Force completo la evaluacion de prueba en vuelo de la unidad de bomba guiada mejorada GBU-27A/B.

    Sources: F-117 Combined Task Force Testing

  4. EGBU-27 first operational use

    Informes de la Air Force indican que la GBU-27 mejorada se uso operacionalmente por primera vez contra blancos estrategicos en Bagdad durante la noche inicial de Operation Iraqi Freedom.

    Sources: Stealth Fighters Use New Munitions To Hit Baghdad

Media

GBU-27 Paveway III Images

GBU-27 Paveway III, Bomba guiada por laser de 2.000 libras para blancos duros, Municiones - view 1
Source: GBU-27 xxl - Wikimedia Commons
Related Weapon Systems
GBU-24 Paveway III, 2,000-pound-class laser-guided bomb, MunitionsMunitionsGBU-24 Paveway III2,000-pound-class laser-guided bombThe GBU-24 Paveway III is a U.S.-origin 2,000-pound-class laser-guided bomb family that combines a Paveway III guidance section and airfoil group with Mk 84, BLU-109, or related hard-target bomb bodies. Official and military-history sources document GBU-24 use in the Gulf War, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and the 2003 Iraq War, while Yemen rights-monitoring sources identify GBU-24 or Paveway III-series remnants from Saudi/UAE-led coalition airstrikes where fragmentary evidence can limit exact bomb-body identification.
GBU-28 Paveway III, 5,000-pound laser-guided penetrator bomb, MunitionsMunitionsGBU-28 Paveway III5,000-pound laser-guided penetrator bombThe GBU-28 Paveway III is a U.S. 5,000-pound-class hard-target penetrator bomb rushed into service for Operation Desert Storm and later retained as a specialized air-launched bunker-buster. GAO and Air & Space Forces sources describe a semi-active laser-guided weapon with a 4,400-pound-class penetrator warhead, while later GBU-28B/B and GBU-28C/B variants added GPS/INS guidance and the BLU-122 improved penetrator for all-weather hard-target attack.
Paveway laser-guided bomb, Laser-guided bomb guidance-kit family, MunitionsMunitionsPaveway laser-guided bombLaser-guided bomb guidance-kit familyPaveway is a U.S.-origin family of laser-guided bomb kits that turns conventional gravity bombs into precision air-to-surface weapons by adding a seeker, computer-control group, and airfoil surfaces. Raytheon traces production to 1968, while later Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon UK lines cover Paveway II, Paveway III, dual-mode Enhanced Paveway, Paveway IV, and Paveway II Plus kits documented in combat-use and transfer records from the Falklands and Gulf War through Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Ukraine, and Yemen.
BLU-109 penetrator warhead, 2,000-pound hard-target penetrator warhead, MunitionsMunitionsBLU-109 penetrator warhead2,000-pound hard-target penetrator warheadThe BLU-109 is a U.S.-origin 2,000-pound hard-target penetrator warhead built around a thick forged-steel bomb body for defeating reinforced structures and buried targets. It appears as the bomb body inside guided weapons such as GBU-24 Paveway III and GBU-31 JDAM configurations, with source-backed conflict context ranging from Saudi-led coalition stocks in Yemen to Israeli JDAM-linked use and transfers in Gaza, Lebanon, and the 2025 Israel-Iran fighting.

Sources

GBU-27 - U.S. Air ForcePublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the primary dimensions, range, hard-target laser-guided weapon description, and public-domain image provenance for the primary artwork. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Raytheon Paveway III - Designation-Systems.NetPublisher: Designation-Systems.Net | Note: Supports Raytheon manufacturer context, the F-117 internal-carriage configuration, the 1987 service entry, production count, and GBU-27/B family designation details. | Accessed: 2026-07-02GBU-27 - GAO Weapons Acquisition ReportPublisher: Government Accountability Office | Note: Supports the GBU-27 production unit cost, inventory quantity, F-117 platform, first capability date, and 1990 Gulf War use in Operation Desert Storm. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Guided Bomb Unit-27 Smart WeaponsPublisher: GulfLINK | Note: Supports the GBU-24-derived F-117 carriage configuration, BLU-109 penetrator body, F-117 two-bomb carriage, guidance method, and hard-target role. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Air Force Ammunition Procurement FY19Publisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the BLU-109 warhead being listed on the GBU-27 weapon system in FY19 Air Force ammunition procurement material. | Accessed: 2026-07-02F-117 Combined Task Force TestingPublisher: Air Force Test Center | Note: Supports F-117 flight-test evaluation of the GBU-27A/B enhanced guided bomb unit. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Stealth Fighters Use New Munitions To Hit BaghdadPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: 2003 Iraq War: supports F-117 use of EGBU-27 against Baghdad targets during Operation Iraqi Freedom and identifies the enhanced guidance upgrade. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Operation Iraqi Freedom By The NumbersPublisher: U.S. Central Air Forces | Note: 2003 Iraq War: supports USCENTAF munitions-expended figures for EGBU-27 GPS/LGB and GBU-27 LGB during Operation Iraqi Freedom. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Kosovo/Operation Allied Force After-Action ReportPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: 1999 Kosovo War / Operation Allied Force: supports NATO campaign context and lists the GBU-27 among laser-guided bomb types used in the operation. | Accessed: 2026-07-02GBU-27 xxl - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain U.S. Air Force image provenance for the secondary GBU-27 gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-02