US to deliver laser-guided bomb kits to Pakistan
03 Mar 2010
Washington: The US will deliver a set of 1,000 sophisticated laser-guided bomb kits to Pakistan this month arguing that the weapon upgrade will enable the government there to strike insurgent targets with greater precision. Pakistani forces are currently engaged in ousting Taliban insurgents from rugged tribal areas of South Waziristan, a province on its frontier with Afghanistan.
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A GBU-24 Paveway III missile hits the ground |
Lt Col Jeffry Glenn, an Air Force spokesman, said Tuesday that the US had already delivered 1,000 MK-82 bombs to Pakistan last month. The MK-82 is an unguided, low drag, general purpose bomb or a 'dumb' bomb.
This month's shipment of kits would enable Pakistan to convert the 'dumb' Mk-82 bomb into a 'smart' one with laser guided kits fitted on. The sophisticated laser technology will be used to guide the bombs to specific targets.
A laser-guided bomb (LGB) is a precision guided munition (PGM) that uses semi-active laser homing to strike a designated target with greater accuracy than a free-fall bomb, such as the Mk-82.
Lt Col Glenn also said the US also plans to provide Pakistan 18 new F-16 fighter jets by June.