PK-82
| PK-82 | |
|---|---|
| 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-81 (125 kg), PK-83 (500 kg), PK-84 (1000 kg) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 250 kg (550 lb) (nominal) |
| Length | 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in) |
| Diameter | 273 mm (10.7 in) |
The PK-82 is an indigenous 250 kg (551 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 82 bomb, modified to withstand local environmental extremes and integrated onto a variety of Western and Chinese-origin tactical strike aircraft within the PAF inventory.
Design and Description
[edit]Development of the PK-82 began under the state-backed localization drive managed by the Air Weapons Complex following its founding in 1992.[2] The bomb's structure features a streamlined, heavy forged-steel body designed to minimize drag during high-speed external carriage. The interior cavity is cast with approximately 89 kg (196 lb) of high-explosive material, typically Tritonal (a mixture of 80% TNT and 20% aluminum powder) or Composition B, providing a balanced combination of blast overpressure and blast fragmentation.[1] Detonation is controlled via nose- or tail-mounted electronic proximity, impact, or airburst delay fuzes designed in-house by AWC.[3]
Technical Specifications
[edit]| Parameter | Specification Dimension |
|---|---|
| Total Weight | 241 kg to 255 kg (variable by fuze setup) |
| Explosive Content | 89 kg (Trinitrotoluene/Aluminum blend) |
| Length | 2.21 m (87 inches) |
| Body Diameter | 273 mm (10.74 inches) |
| Tail Unit Options | High-drag (speed-retarding parachute/fins) or Low-drag conical fins |
Precision Guidance Kits
[edit]The PK-82 forms the structural explosive warhead core for several domestic stand-off precision-guided munition (PGM) conversion kits produced by Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS):[3]
- Takbir – A GPS/INS satellite tracking glide kit featuring unfolding wings, expanding the weapon's stand-off range up to 50 km away from target grids.
- Al Battaar – A semi-active laser guidance kit paired with forward tracking canards to achieve pin-point circular error probable (CEP) limits.[3]
- Azb-83 – An extended range precision kit built to engage high-value static ground assets.
Deployment and Operational History
[edit]The PK-82 is widely issued to frontline PAF flight wings and is universally compatible with standard NATO-style 14-inch suspension lug configurations. Primary strike platforms include:
- CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder – Capable of multi-bomb rack deployments.
- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
- Dassault Mirage III & Dassault Mirage 5 – Extensively deployed during deep strike missions.[2]
The munition has seen prominent operational deployment during domestic counter-insurgency tasks and routine border security operations conducted along regional border grids.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "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 3 "Air Launched Systems - GP Series Bombs & Electric Fuzes". Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS). Retrieved August 2, 2026.