PK-81
| PK-81 | |
|---|---|
| Type | General-purpose bomb |
| Place of origin |  Pakistan |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Pakistan Air Force |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Air Weapons Complex (AWC) |
| Designed | 1990s |
| Manufacturer | Air Weapons Complex (AWC) / Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) |
| Produced | 1992–present |
| Variants | PK-82 (250 kg), PK-83 (500 kg), PK-84 (1000 kg) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 113 kg (249 lb) (nominal) |
| Length | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Diameter | 229 mm (9.0 in) |
The PK-81 is an indigenous 113 kg (249 lb) low-drag, general-purpose (LDGP) steel-cased aircraft bomb manufactured by the Air Weapons Complex (AWC) and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).[1] The munition is a licensed local production variant of the American Mark 81 bomb, representing the lightest class of conventional gravity bombs within the PK series arsenal.
Design and description
[edit]Development of the PK-81 was handled by the Air Weapons Complex to provide a lightweight tactical gravity bomb optimized for close air support and anti-personnel operations.[2] The weapon features a streamlined, heavy forged-steel body designed to minimize drag during high-speed external carriage on lightweight aircraft pylons.
The main explosive section houses roughly 45 kg (99 lb) of high-explosive filler, typically Tritonal or Composition B. This payload provides an effective balance of blast fragmentation and localized overpressure tailored for unarmored vehicles and soft ground targets.[1] Impact triggering relies on point-detonating mechanical nose assemblies or specialized electronic proximity and airburst delay fuzes designed in-house by AWC.[3]
Technical Specifications
[edit]| Parameter | Specification Dimension |
|---|---|
| Total Weight | 110 kg to 115 kg (variable by fuze setup) |
| Explosive Content | 45 kg (Trinitrotoluene/Aluminum blend) |
| Length | 1.88 m (74 inches) |
| Body Diameter | 229 mm (9 inches) |
| Tail Unit Options | High-drag (speed-retarding parachute/fins) or Low-drag conical fins |
Precision Guidance Integration
[edit]The PK-81 serves as a lightweight warhead core option for domestic precision-guided munition (PGM) integration training configurations and small-scale standoff kit testing programs managed by Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS).[3] It can be modified with standard aerodynamic tail units or coupled with forward tracking stabilizers for localized operational training roles.
Deployment and Operational History
[edit]The PK-81 is widely issued to frontline tactical flight wings and is universally compatible with standard NATO-style 14-inch suspension lug configurations. It is primarily used during pilot operational conversion training courses and low-altitude close-support drills. Primary delivery platforms include:
- CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder – Often deployed in multi-bomb rack training configurations.
- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
- Dassault Mirage III & Dassault Mirage 5 – Utilized during tactical training missions.[2]
See Also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Kamra Air Weapon Complex (AWC) Pakistan Aeronautical Complex". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
- 1 2 "Air Weapons Complex (AWC) Facility Profile". Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). Retrieved August 2, 2026.
- 1 2 "Air Launched Systems - GP Series Bombs & Electric Fuzes". Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS). Retrieved August 2, 2026.