Munitions

GBU-58 Paveway II

The GBU-58 Paveway II is a U.S.-origin 250-pound laser-guided bomb in the Paveway II family, built around an Mk 81 warhead and semi-active laser guidance. Open-source reporting from Afghanistan documents the Afghan Air Force dropping the munition from an A-29 Super Tucano in combat in March 2018.

Profile

Origin
United States
Built by
Raytheon
Type
250-pound laser-guided bomb
Service note
Paveway II family in service from the 1970s; Afghan Air Force combat use documented in 2018
Produced
1970s-present
Variants
GBU-58/B, GBU-59/B Enhanced Paveway II

Specifications

Weight class
250 lb / 113.4 kg class
Warhead
Mk 81 bomb body
Guidance
Semi-active laser homing Paveway II seeker
Airfoil group
MXU-1006/B
Launch domain
Air-to-surface free-fall guided bomb

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service
Air-launched laser-guided bomb; open-source reporting documents Afghan Air Force combat use from an A-29 Super Tucano in 2018.
Used by
Afghan Air Force

Carrier Aircraft

Military.com and the associated public-domain footage document the Afghan Air Force using the GBU-58 on an A-29 Super Tucano in combat.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
A-29 Super TucanoLight attack aircraft

Military.com reported an Afghan A-29 squadron using a GBU-58 in combat, and the associated footage shows the munition being dropped on a Taliban compound in March 2018.

Sources: Afghan A-29 drops first laser-guided bomb on Taliban

GBU-58 Paveway II Videos

GBU-58 Paveway II Images

Related Weapon Systems

Sources