A detachment of the Italian Air Pressure with three Eurofighter Typhoons is presently deployed to RAF Marham within the UK, testing the Paveway IV twin mode laser and GPS/INS guided bombs.
The Italian Air Pressure has began a take a look at marketing campaign to equip its Eurofighter Typhoons with the Paveway IV twin mode laser and GPS/INS guided bombs. A detachment together with an F-2000A (as the one seat Eurofighter Typhoons are designated in Italy) and two TF-2000As (designation for the dual seat Typhoons) is presently deployed to RAF Marham within the UK for the reside hearth exercise.
The take a look at marketing campaign
The actions are being carried out by the Reparto Sperimentale Volo (Flight Check Unit), because the plane had been utilizing the unit’s SPERA callsign whereas speaking with air visitors management. It’s doubtless, nonetheless, that Weapon Instructors from operational items and mission information specialist from the Reparto Supporto Tecnico Operativo Guerra Elettronica (Digital Warfare Technical Help Division) are additionally taking part, equally to earlier reside hearth marketing campaign for the Meteor BVRAAM.
14.18 SPERA 91 flt 3 x Italian AF Typhoons out of Marham labored 252.875 A/A 300.775 now working Aberporth Vary 340.475
— Mike B (@jamjake01) July 14, 2025
The pictures captured by our contributor Stewart Jack clearly present the jets every outfitted with two reside (as denoted by the yellow band) Paveway IV bombs below the wings’ internal pylons. The Typhoons had been additionally outfitted with two exterior gasoline tanks and a Litening 5 concentrating on pod.
Curiously, the one seater, performing because the mission lead, suffered an undisclosed emergency and returned to RAF Marham, the place it was met by emergency providers upon touchdown, whereas one other Storm acted as a security chase. Opposite to the dual seaters, the F-2000A didn’t carry bombs, though it’s unclear in the event that they had been employed on the vary, jettisoned following the emergency or if the jet was already unarmed.
Particulars in regards to the take a look at marketing campaign haven’t been disclosed but, and it’s unclear the place particularly the reside hearth actions are being carried out. The radio calls which had been heard on open frequencies indicated that the three jets labored on the MOD Aberporth vary in Wales. Nevertheless, the close by Holbeach Air Weapons Vary, which is parented to RAF Marham and utilized by each RAF and NATO allies, can be a probable candidate.
Italian Paveway IV integration
The combination of the Paveway IV twin mode laser and GPS/INS guided bombs on the Italian F-2000 fleet was not beforehand introduced. The weapon is presently used solely by the Royal Air Pressure’s and Royal Saudi Air Pressure’s Typhoons.
Till now, the one air-to-ground precision guided munition obtainable to the Italian Typhoons had been the GBU-16 Paveway II and the GBU-48 Enhanced Paveway II. The weapons are each primarily based on the Mk-83 1,000 lb (454 kg) warhead, with the latter being an improve of the previous and often known as EGBU-16.
The GBU-48 was chosen by Italy, Germany and Spain as different to the Paveway IV to enrich the GBU-16. However, the UK built-in the Paveway IV, which was already utilized by the Twister GR4 and Harrier GR9, by way of Mission Centurion, changing the GBU-16.
A 2022 doc in regards to the upkeep and refurbishment of the weapon programs, offered by the Italian Minister of Protection Guido Crosetto, mentions the acquisition of the Paveway IV for the Twister fleet, along with the GBU-54 and GBU-12. Notably, the Mk-82 500 lb (227 kg) bombs used to use the Paveway IV kits are in-built Italy by RWM Italia, a part of Rheinmetall’s Weapon and Ammunition Division.
The combination of the Paveway IV on the Italian Typhoons may also benefit from the teachings realized by the RAF. In reality, as a part of an Implementing Association, the Italian Air Pressure and the Royal Air Pressure are working to extend the interoperability within the upkeep and logistics of their widespread Storm fleets, in addition to the combination of their property when employed in the identical operational context.
Paveway IV
The Paveway IV is a dual-mode precision-guided bomb developed by Raytheon UK for the UK. At its core, the Paveway IV is a 500 lb (226 kg) Mk 82 general-purpose bomb outfitted with an enhanced steerage and management package.
The weapon is a part of the Paveway household of laser-guided munitions however incorporates superior options to boost concentrating on accuracy, operational flexibility, and diminished collateral harm. The system, in comparison with the usual Paveway II, combines a semi-active laser seeker with GPS/INS (International Positioning System / Inertial Navigation System) steerage.
This enables the weapon to strike each stationary and transferring targets in all climate circumstances, day or evening, a functionality which was additionally examined with the F-35 in 2018. The twin-mode steerage considerably will increase concentrating on versatility and reliability in complicated operational environments.
One of many Paveway IV’s standout options is its programmable fuzing. Aircrews can choose between airburst, affect, and delayed detonation modes shortly earlier than launch, optimizing results in opposition to varied goal sorts similar to armored autos, bunkers, or personnel within the open.
The weapon additionally features a low collateral harm variant with a reduced-yield warhead for city and counter-insurgency operations. A penetrating warhead variant can be being developed as a part of the SPEAR 1 (Selective Precision Results at Vary Functionality 1) effort.
First coming into service in 2008, the Paveway IV has develop into a core aspect of the Royal Air Pressure’s air-to-ground strike functionality. The weapon is cleared to be used on the RAF’s Storm FGR4 and F-35B Lightning II, and was beforehand built-in on the Twister GR4 and Harrier GR9, seeing extensively use in operations over Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Libya.
Along with the RAF, the Paveway IV is utilized by the Royal Saudi Air Pressure’s Typhoons and Tornados and has been acquired by Qatar to equip its personal Typhoons. Additionally, in 2024, the U.Ok. Ministry of Protection included the Paveway IV within the weapons being provided to Ukraine, though it has not but been noticed within the war-torn nation and it’s unclear on which platform will probably be used.
