PGM
A family of highly accurate, modular, air-to-surface precision guided stand-off weapons
Operational requirement
Recent conflicts have shown the need for the armed forces to have bombs and missiles whose precision ensures target destruction at first shot, while reducing collateral damage.
The PGM family addresses this requirement for the destruction of buildings, radar installations, command centres, armoured vehicles, etc.
PGM also has a range that can enable aircraft and their crews to operate at a stand-off distance from the enemy's close defence systems.
The MBDA solution
Limited time of exposure of the aircraft during the engagement phase of its weapon system is one of the factors that greatly reduces vulnerability against hostile threats. This implies that one shot - one hit conditions be met, with pre-loading of the target data.
Computer modules and modern data exchange can be used to contemplate the following two solutions:
If the carrying aircraft has a data bus that allows mission data to be input to the weapon system's guidance computer, the data can be loaded at any time before firing. This offers two advantages. Firstly, the target engagement capability is flexible and used according to the need for reconfiguring the targeting plans on the pre-programmed targets. Secondly, in cases where the aircraft identifies new targets during the mission with sufficient track enrichment parameters, these parameters can then be sent to the PGM computer to trigger strikes at targets of opportunity.
The second solution involves pre-programming the PGM weapons before the start of the mission, using a portable loading module. This option makes it possible to set up the PGMs from aircrafts that do not have any data link bus.
In either scenario, the performance characteristics of the PGM system in the terminal phase remain unchanged. The system is made fully efficient by the PGM munitions and their three interchangeable seekers (laser, TV and IIR), which ensure full operability 24 hours a day, even in poor weather conditions, and at distances ranging from 15 km.
MAIN FEATURES and ADVANTAGES
With a choice of seekers and two different warhead options, PGM has a major tactical advantage in a wide range of modern combat scenarios.
PGM provides absolute precision with proven in service firing accuracies of less than 1m CEP. This means that fewer weapons are required to destroy each target.
Seekers
PGM has three highly accurate, separate and inter-changeable seekers (Laser, TV and I2R), providing 24 hour, all weather capability.
Laser PGM is compatible with all standard ground and airborne laser designators including NATO variants.
The TV and IIR seekers used by PGM can send post-launch images back to an aircraft more than 100 km away right up to the point of impact.
Alternatively, images can be relayed to a third party aircraft or ground control centre that the PGM’s mission can be managed remotely, allowing the aircrew to concentrate on other aspects of their mission.
The mission controller can regain MITL (Man-in-the-Loop) control from the PGM’s automatic tracking system at any point in the mission allowing further aim point optimisation or alternative targets to be selected
Aircraft Integration
The PGM family of weapons are currently in operational service and are being integrated on to F-16 and the latest version of Mirage 2000. They are also the only systems in their class to be compatible with light fighter aircraft such as the A 4, the Hawk and the F 5.
The PGM Family of Weapons
All PGM weapons have been designed to have the same interface, which minimises the cost of aircraft qualification and pilot training across the family.
A high degree of flexibility has been achieved through in-built modularity, where a variety of weapon sizes and configurations have been developed to suit different delivery aircraft, targets and mission characteristics.
PGMs can be used to destroy surface targets such as bridges, buildings, air defence units, radar installations, main battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers, command, control and communications vehicles and troop incursions. PGM is also very effective against naval targets.
PGMs are supplied with blast fragmentation warheads in either 500lb or 2000lb variants.
All variants include selectable fuzing options of impact or proximity/airburst detonation.
Modular Expansion
PGM’s modularity ensures that new subsystems can quickly be incorporated to extend performance and meet customers’ new requirements.
Status of programme
The PGM system family has been in service for more than 5 years.
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Characteristics of
PGM 500 (laser),
PGM 500 (TV),
PGM 500 (IIR) |
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Weight 404 kg |
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Length 3.384 mm |
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Diameter 355 mm |
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Guidance
laser, TV or IIR |
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Warhead
500 lb blast fragmentation warhead |
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Detonation control
2 options: impact or proximity |
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Precision on target
+/- 1 meter |
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Range |
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 low-altitude release: 15 km |
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medium-altitude release:
up to 30 km |
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high-altitude release:
over 50 km | |
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Characteristics of
PGM 2000 (laser),
PGM 2000 (TV),
PGM 2000 (IIR) |
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Weight 1.060 kg |
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Length 4.623 mm |
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Diameter 457 mm |
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Guidance
laser, TV or IIR |
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Warhead
2000 lb blast fragmentation warhead |
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Detonation control
2 options: impact or proximity |
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Precision on target
+/- 1 meter |
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Range |
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low-altitude release: 15 km |
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medium-altitude release:
up to 30 km |
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high-altitude release:
over 50 km | |
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