How do I use GBU-24 Paveway III bombs in DCS World?

To use a GBU-24 in DCS World, load it on a supported station, match the bomb’s laser code to the designator, select air-to-ground AUTO/CCRP delivery, designate the target, fly the release cues and hold weapon release. Keep the laser spot on the aimpoint through impact, using your pod or an external designator.

Exact displays, switch names and permitted stations depend on the aircraft module. There is no universal DCS cockpit sequence, but the underlying employment process is the same.

GBU-24 setup and release procedure

A successful GBU-24 attack requires a valid computed release, matching laser codes and uninterrupted terminal designation.

1. Confirm aircraft and station compatibility. The GBU-24 must appear as an authorised load for that module and station. Its size and weight mean carriage restrictions are tighter than for a GBU-12; if it is absent from the loadout menu, that aircraft, station or mission warehouse does not support it.
2. Match the laser codes. Set the bomb’s four-digit code to the code transmitted by your targeting pod, JTAC or buddy-lasing aircraft. Some modules treat the bomb code as a ground setting selected during rearming, while others expose it through cockpit controls. Record assigned codes and attack notes on the in-cockpit kneeboard.
3. Configure the weapon. Select air-to-ground mode, Master Arm, the GBU-24, suitable fuzing and the aircraft’s computed delivery mode—normally labelled AUTO or CCRP. Arm the targeting-pod laser and configure automatic lasing if the module provides it.
4. Create a target designation. Slew the targeting pod onto the intended impact point and designate it, or enter the coordinates supplied by an external controller. Use point tracking for a clearly defined or moving object and area tracking for a fixed patch of terrain or structure.
5. Fly the release solution. Approach at a stable speed and attitude, follow the steering line and remain within the displayed release envelope. Press and hold weapon release as instructed by the aircraft’s cues; computed modes may not release the bomb until the release marker reaches the solution.
6. Maintain laser designation. Ensure the laser is firing on the correct code and keep its spot on the aimpoint until impact. During self-lasing, make a gentle turn that keeps the targeting pod within its field of regard and avoids masking it with the fuselage, wing or stores.
7. Check the result before re-attacking. If the bomb falls ballistically, investigate the code and laser rather than immediately changing the release profile. A valid release solution only puts the bomb near the seeker’s acquisition area; it does not provide terminal guidance.

Do not confuse the designator’s firing code with its laser-spot-search code. The latter tells your sensor which external spot to search for; changing it alone does not retune your bomb or your own laser.

Do I need to lock the target before dropping a GBU-24?

You do not need an air-to-air-style radar lock, but you do need an accurate target designation for the release calculation.

A targeting-pod point or area track helps keep the aimpoint stable, yet the bomb itself homes on reflected laser energy after release. Designating, sensor tracking and weapon locking are separate actions; our explanation of DCS target designation and locking covers the distinction and the relevant sensor controls.

For a stationary target, an area track on the exact desired impact point is often sufficient. For a moving vehicle, the designator must continue following it, and the release must still place the bomb close enough to detect the moving laser spot.

When should I turn on the laser?

The laser must begin early enough for seeker acquisition and remain on the same aimpoint through impact.

For initial training, use the module’s automatic lasing function from release, or start manual lasing shortly before release and maintain it continuously. Do not illuminate throughout a long ingress: this adds no benefit and some modules model laser operating limits.

Delayed lasing can reduce designator use and may suit a documented delivery profile, but do not copy a GBU-12 timing blindly. The Paveway III guidance logic and longer release profiles can require different acquisition timing. Follow the module’s weapon cues and manual rather than assuming a fixed number of seconds works for every aircraft and altitude.

In multiplayer, assign different laser codes to simultaneous attacks. Two designators illuminating separate targets on the same code can pull a bomb towards the wrong reflected spot.

Can a JTAC or another aircraft guide the GBU-24?

Yes, a JTAC or buddy aircraft can provide terminal laser guidance if its code matches the bomb and it illuminates the intended target at the correct time.

You still need your own target point or coordinates to generate a safe release solution; the external laser does not automatically create steering cues in every aircraft. Release into the target area, confirm that the designator is lasing, and avoid launching so far off-axis that the seeker cannot acquire the spot. See our JTAC laser-code and attack procedure for the radio sequence and designation details.

Why does the GBU-24 fail to release or miss?

Most GBU-24 failures come from an invalid release setup, a laser-code mismatch or loss of laser line of sight.

When should I choose the GBU-24?

The GBU-24 is best reserved for high-value fixed or hardened targets when the carrying aircraft supports its release envelope.

The exact warhead and fuze depend on the named GBU-24 variant. Its Paveway III guidance is designed to manage energy better than Paveway II, but in DCS World the usable delivery options are those implemented by the aircraft module; do not force a real-world loft or stand-off profile when the cockpit provides no valid release solution.