PK-84
| PK-84 | |
|---|---|
| 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-82 (250 kg), PK-83 (500 kg) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 907 kg (2,000 lb) (nominal) |
| Length | 3.84 m (12 ft 7 in) |
| Diameter | 460 mm (18 in) |
The PK-84 is an indigenous 907 kg (2,000 lb) heavy 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 84 bomb, representing the largest and most destructive class of conventional gravity bombs within the PAF's air-launched arsenal.
Design and Description
[edit]Development of the PK-84 was handled by the Air Weapons Complex to provide domestic heavy bombardment capabilities following the establishment of localized production assets in the early 1990s.[2] The weapon features a massive forged-steel body with a highly streamlined aerodynamic shape to maintain low air resistance on high-capacity heavy external weapon stations.
The main explosive section houses roughly 429 kg (946 lb) of high-explosive material, typically Tritonal or Composition B. This massive payload is optimized for high-intensity blast overpressure, thermal damage, and structural penetration, creating a highly destructive fragment radius.[1] Impact triggering relies on point-detonating mechanical nose assemblies or hardened electronic proximity and airburst delay fuzes designed in-house by AWC.[3]
Technical Specifications
[edit]| Parameter | Specification Dimension |
|---|---|
| Total Weight | 895 kg to 920 kg (variable by fuze setup) |
| Explosive Content | 429 kg (Trinitrotoluene/Aluminum blend) |
| Length | 3.84 m (151 inches) |
| Body Diameter | 460 mm (18.1 inches) |
| Tail Unit Options | High-drag (speed-retarding parachute/fins) or Low-drag conical fins |
Precision Guidance Integration
[edit]The PK-84 acts as the heavy warhead core for domestic high-yield precision-guided munition (PGM) standoff kits managed by Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS):[3]
- Range Extension Kit (REK-84) – A dedicated heavy wing glide assembly that scales up satellite tracking options for the 2,000 lb class weapon, converting standard gravity models into precision satellite-guided standoff weapons with tactical ranges up to 50–60 km away from the release point grid.
Deployment and Operational History
[edit]The PK-84 is widely issued to frontline tactical flight wings for infrastructure destruction, bunker busting, and deep static target interdiction. It is fully compatible with heavy-duty NATO-style 30-inch suspension weapon racks. Primary strike platforms include:
- CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder – Deployed on centerline or inner heavy wing pylons.
- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
- Dassault Mirage III & Dassault Mirage 5 – Extensively deployed during tactical deep strike missions targeting fortified positions.[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.