NATO has awarded RTX a 120-million-euro ($133-million) contract for laser guidance/GPS kits.
Under the deal, unguided or “dumb” air-to-ground bombs will be converted to precision-guided munitions using RTX’s Paveway kits.
A Paveway laser-guided bomb combines the accuracy and flexibility of traditional laser-guided weapons with the all-weather capability of the global positioning system.
Newer versions of the Paveway bomb are also equipped with inertial navigation system capabilities.
The enhanced accuracy provided by the kit results in reduced sorties and weapon inventory and an enhanced mission success rate.
Ammunition Support Partnership
Funds were secured through the Ammunition Support Partnership, a funding mechanism established in 1993 comprising 28 member nations.
The mechanism facilitates collective procurement and management of ammunition, enhancing individual national capabilities and the overall operational effectiveness of NATO forces.
“This contract is therefore a significant contribution to the NATO Industrial Capacity Expansion Pledge … aiming to accelerate defense industrial capacity and production across the Alliance, and underscoring the strategic importance of transatlantic defense cooperation,” according to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.
