An outgrowth of the Mk. 80 series of general purpose bombs, Paveway bombs reflect a modular design concept, simply being Mk. 80 bombs modified by the addition of bolt-on subassemblies. To convert a Mk. 80 bomb into a GBU, a laser guidance unit is added to the nose, and a stabilizing tail unit is added to the rear. The laser guidance unit detects the laser designation spot and guides the bomb towards it by manipulating its control surfaces. The tail assembly plays no role in bomb guidance. Target designation can be by the parent aircraft, another airborne designator, or ground-based systems.%n
