A detachment of the Italian Air Force with three Eurofighter Typhoons is currently deployed to RAF Marham in the UK, testing the Paveway IV dual mode laser and GPS/INS guided bombs.
The Italian Air Force has started a test campaign to equip its Eurofighter Typhoons with the Paveway IV dual mode laser and GPS/INS guided bombs. A detachment including an F-2000A (as the single seat Eurofighter Typhoons are designated in Italy) and two TF-2000As (designation for the twin seat Typhoons) is currently deployed to RAF Marham in the UK for the live fire activity.
The test campaign
The activities are being conducted by the Reparto Sperimentale Volo (Flight Test Unit), as the aircraft were using the unit’s SPERA callsign while communicating with air traffic control. It is likely, however, that Weapon Instructors from operational units and mission data specialist from the Reparto Supporto Tecnico Operativo Guerra Elettronica (Electronic Warfare Technical Support Department) are also participating, similarly to previous live fire campaign for the Meteor BVRAAM.
14.18 SPERA 91 flt 3 x Italian AF Typhoons out of Marham worked 252.875 A/A 300.775 now working Aberporth Range 340.475
— Mike B (@jamjake01) July 14, 2025
The photos captured by our contributor Stewart Jack clearly show the jets each equipped with two live (as denoted by the yellow band) Paveway IV bombs under the wings’ inner pylons. The Typhoons were also equipped with two external fuel tanks and a Litening 5 targeting pod.
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Interestingly, the single seater, acting as the mission lead, suffered an undisclosed emergency and returned to RAF Marham, where it was met by emergency services upon landing, while another Typhoon acted as a safety chase. Contrary to the twin seaters, the F-2000A did not carry bombs, although it is unclear if they were employed on the range, jettisoned following the emergency or if the jet was already unarmed.
Details about the test campaign have not been disclosed yet, and it is unclear where specifically the live fire activities are being conducted. The radio calls which were heard on open frequencies indicated that the three jets worked at the MOD Aberporth range in Wales. However, the nearby Holbeach Air Weapons Range, which is parented to RAF Marham and used by both RAF and NATO allies, is also a likely candidate.
Italian Paveway IV integration
The integration of the Paveway IV dual mode laser and GPS/INS guided bombs on the Italian F-2000 fleet was not previously announced. The weapon is currently used only by the Royal Air Force’s and Royal Saudi Air Force’s Typhoons.
Until now, the only air-to-ground precision guided munition available to the Italian Typhoons were the GBU-16 Paveway II and the GBU-48 Enhanced Paveway II. The weapons are both based on the Mk-83 1,000 lb (454 kg) warhead, with the latter being an upgrade of the former and also known as EGBU-16.
The GBU-48 was chosen by Italy, Germany and Spain as alternative to the Paveway IV to complement the GBU-16. On the other hand, the UK integrated the Paveway IV, which was already used by the Tornado GR4 and Harrier GR9, through Project Centurion, replacing the GBU-16.
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A 2022 document about the maintenance and refurbishment of the weapon systems, presented by the Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, mentions the acquisition of the Paveway IV for the Tornado fleet, together with the GBU-54 and GBU-12. Notably, the Mk-82 500 lb (227 kg) bombs used to apply the Paveway IV kits are built in Italy by RWM Italia, part of Rheinmetall’s Weapon and Ammunition Division.
The integration of the Paveway IV on the Italian Typhoons might also take advantage of the lessons learned by the RAF. In fact, as part of an Implementing Arrangement, the Italian Air Force and the Royal Air Force are working to increase the interoperability in the maintenance and logistics of their common Typhoon fleets, as well as the integration of their assets when employed in the same operational context.
Paveway IV
The Paveway IV is a dual-mode precision-guided bomb developed by Raytheon UK for the United Kingdom. At its core, the Paveway IV is a 500 lb (226 kg) Mk 82 general-purpose bomb equipped with an enhanced guidance and control kit.
The weapon is part of the Paveway family of laser-guided munitions but incorporates advanced features to enhance targeting accuracy, operational flexibility, and reduced collateral damage. The system, compared to the standard Paveway II, combines a semi-active laser seeker with GPS/INS (Global Positioning System / Inertial Navigation System) guidance.
This allows the weapon to strike both stationary and moving targets in all weather conditions, day or night, a capability which was also tested with the F-35 in 2018. The dual-mode guidance significantly increases targeting versatility and reliability in complex operational environments.
One of the Paveway IV’s standout features is its programmable fuzing. Aircrews can select between airburst, impact, and delayed detonation modes shortly before release, optimizing effects against various target types such as armored vehicles, bunkers, or personnel in the open.
The weapon also includes a low collateral damage variant with a reduced-yield warhead for urban and counter-insurgency operations. A penetrating warhead variant is also being developed as part of the SPEAR 1 (Selective Precision Effects at Range Capability 1) effort.
First entering service in 2008, the Paveway IV has become a core element of the Royal Air Force’s air-to-ground strike capability. The weapon is cleared for use on the RAF’s Typhoon FGR4 and F-35B Lightning II, and was previously integrated on the Tornado GR4 and Harrier GR9, seeing extensively use in operations over Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Libya.
In addition to the RAF, the Paveway IV is used by the Royal Saudi Air Force’s Typhoons and Tornados and has been acquired by Qatar to equip its own Typhoons. Also, in 2024, the U.K. Ministry of Defense included the Paveway IV in the weapons being supplied to Ukraine, although it has not yet been spotted in the war-torn country and it is unclear on which platform it will be used.
