NATO order laser guidance kits for air-to-ground precision.

NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency has awarded a €120 million ($133 million) contract to RTX, a leading U.S. missile systems manufacturer, for the delivery of laser guidance kits to improve the precision of air-to-ground munitions. The funding was secured through the Ammunition Support Partnership (ASP), a financing mechanism established in 1993 that includes 28 NATO members.
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US Air Force F-35A drops a munition at the Utah Test and Training Range (Picture source: Nato Support and Procurement Agency)

This procurement method is also used to acquire munitions and aims to significantly increase stockpile management flexibility, as previously, the administrative and technical process of transferring munitions could take months. The new agreement will convert so-called "dumb" bombs—unguided conventional bombs—into precision-guided munitions using RTX's Paveway kits.

According to the supplier, Paveway bombs accounted for more than half of the precision-guided air-to-ground weapons used during operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Iraq, as well as in the 2011 Unified Protector operation in Libya.

The Paveway bomb is a precision-guided munition developed by Raytheon, designed to convert unguided conventional bombs into laser- or GPS-guided weapons. First used during the Vietnam War, it has since become a primary air-to-ground strike weapon for the U.S. military and its allies. The series includes several variants, such as Paveway II, III, and IV, the latter being the most recent and advanced, featuring GPS and laser-guiding capabilities for greater accuracy, even in adverse weather conditions.

In Europe, several countries use Paveway bombs. The United Kingdom is a major operator of the Paveway IV, deployed on Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 aircraft. France, while primarily using its own guidance systems such as the AASM Hammer, also has access to Paveway technology. Italy uses Paveway variants on its fighter jets, and Germany, as an active NATO member, integrates these systems into its air operations. Poland, also a NATO member, may have access to these munitions under defense agreements, bolstering its air capabilities.

The latest innovations in guidance kits combine the precision and flexibility of traditional laser-guided weapons with all-weather GPS guidance. RTX claims this results in fewer sorties, reduced weapon inventory, and a higher mission success rate.

This contract marks a significant contribution to NATO's industrial capacity expansion commitment, agreed upon at the Washington Summit in July 2024. It aims to accelerate defense industrial capacity and production across the Alliance, highlighting the strategic importance of transatlantic defense cooperation, with NATO acting as a "delivery facilitator" for member states.

By pooling needs through multinational contracts, NATO offers quick solutions that allow member countries to access the resources they need to maintain their readiness and operational efficiency.