Azb REK

The Azb is a family of Pakistani munition guidance kits designed by Air Weapons Complex while marketed for export by Global Industrial Defence Solutions and Qaswa Industries. Also known as the "Range Extension Kit", it converts conventional General purpose bombs into precision-guided glide bombs. Though similar to the American JDAM-ER, it isn't bound to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Overview

The Azb is an all weather fire-and-forget weapon that utilizes a tightly coupled INS/GNSS for navigation with later versions like the Azb-81LR also featuring an infra-red seeker for terminal guidance. The kit consists of a guidance unit which has the navigation systems, folding wings which deploy after being dropped from the pylons and an aerodynamic body on a cruciform tail. This allows the launching aircraft to engage targets from greater Standoff ranges, minimizing risk to the aircraft and reducing sortie times. Overall, the AZB is suited for fixed targets, such as installations, bunkers, aircraft hangars, and other high-value targets.

Variants

Azb-81

First member of the Azb series.

Contractor: GIDS, Qaswa Industries
Guidance: INS, GNSS, Infrared homing
Weight:
Aircraft Compatibility: UCAVs
Range:
Warhead: Mk. 81/PK-81

Azb-81LR

The Azb-81 Long Range Small Diameter Bomb, also known as the Boosted-Range Extension Kit is an enhanced version of the Azb-81 revealed in 2024 during the IDEAS-2024 at Karachi. It features a specially designed airframe casing which uses a combination of a gliding systems and a miniature turbojet engine enabling it to reach ranges of upto 200 km.

Contractor: Qaswa Industries
Guidance: INS, GNSS, Infrared homing
Weight:
Aircraft Compatibility: UCAVs, Combat aircraft, Infrared homing
Range:
* Low altitude:
* High altitude: >=
Warhead: Mk. 81/PK-81

Azb-82

Range Extension Kit for Mark 82 bombs.

Contractor: GIDS, Qaswa Industries
Guidance: INS, GNSS, Infrared homing
Weight:
Aircraft Compatibility: UCAVs, Combat aircraft
Range:
Warhead: Mk. 82/PK-82

Azb-83

Contractor: Qaswa Industries
Guidance: INS, GNSS, Infrared homing
Weight:
Aircraft Compatibility: Combat aircraft
Range:
Warhead: Mk. 83/PK-83

Azb-83LR

Enhanced version of the Azb-83 which features upgraded sub-systems and navigation systems. Fitted with turbo-jet engine.

Contractor: Qaswa Industries
Guidance: INS, GNSS, Infrared homing
Weight:
Aircraft Compatibility: Combat aircraft
Range:
Warhead: Mk. 83/PK-83

Azb-84

Contractor: Qaswa Industries
Guidance: INS, GNSS, Infrared homing
Weight:
Aircraft Compatibility: Combat aircraft
Range:
Warhead: Mk. 84/PK-84

Azb-V & Azb-VI

Range Extension Kits for Mark-84 GPBs are under development by GIDS. Revealed during IDEF-2023.

Launch platforms

Combat history

Amidst the 2024 Iran–Pakistan conflict, the Pakistan Air Force launched airstrikes on BLA targets within Iran in a military operation codenamed Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar during which PAF utilized Azb REKs to destroy 7 terrorist hideouts.