THUNDER: HALCON precision-guidance kits for Mk 80-series bombs

Photo: EDGE Group (edgegroup.ae)

United Arab EmiratesPrecision-guidance kitIn production

GNSS/INS and laser guidance kits for Mk 81, Mk 82 and Mk 84 bombs

THUNDER is a family of precision-guidance kits from HALCON, EDGE Group's missile company, that turns Mk 80-series general-purpose bombs into guided weapons. In production and in UAE service, the kits have been shown on UAE Air Force Mirage 2000-9 fighters.

27 kmP-31 range

24 kmP-32 range

3 m CEPAccuracy (GAINS + SAL)

40,000 ftMax release altitude

AED 2.14 billion2023 UAE contract

What is THUNDER? Overview of HALCON's bomb guidance kit

THUNDER adds guidance and control to standard unguided bombs, so that existing bomb stocks can be used for precision strike. HALCON offers kits for the 250 lb Mk 81 (THUNDER P-31) and the 500 lb Mk 82 (THUNDER P-32). The 2021 contract announcement also named a P4 kit for the 2,000 lb Mk 84.

The Mk 80 series of low-drag general-purpose bombs is among the most widely held air-delivered ordnance in the world, and guidance kits of this type typically bolt a guidance section to the nose and a control section with fins to the tail. That approach lets an air force keep its existing bomb bodies, fuzes and handling equipment while gaining a guided capability.

The kits were part of EDGE's second wave of large domestic contracts. At the Dubai Airshow in November 2021 EDGE announced an AED 3.2 billion (USD 871 million) UAE Armed Forces contract covering THUNDER P-31, P-32 and P4 kits alongside DESERT STING weapons, according to Janes. HALCON's acting CEO later said both the P-31 and P-32 had been in production for several years and were in operation with the local user.

THUNDER guidance, accuracy and range

Navigation is handled by GAINS, a GNSS-assisted inertial navigation system. An optional semi-active laser seeker can be added for terminal homing against designated targets. With GAINS alone the kit achieves 10 m CEP; combined with the SAL seeker, that improves to 3 m CEP. Kits can be released from altitudes of up to 40,000 ft.

Semi-active laser homing means the target is illuminated by a laser designator, which can be on the launch aircraft, another aircraft or a ground team, and the seeker steers the bomb onto the reflected spot. This allows the weapon to engage targets that have moved since release or whose coordinates are not known precisely.

The P-31 weighs 140 kg in total, including a 110 kg warhead, and has a range of 27 km. The larger P-32 weighs 240 kg with a 209 kg warhead and reaches 24 km.

THUNDER production and operational use

In February 2023, at IDEX, HALCON received a further AED 2.14 billion UAE Armed Forces contract for THUNDER P3 light precision-guided munitions. EDR Magazine reported that P3 kits were produced at 27 kits per shift and delivered in boxes of four.

The clearest public evidence of operational use came on 29 July 2026. EDGE then released images of UAE Air Force Mirage 2000-9 fighters carrying THUNDER-guided bombs, as reported by Army Recognition. The UAE is the only confirmed operator. Together with DESERT STING and AL TARIQ, THUNDER forms part of a family of UAE-made air-delivered precision weapons covering different weight and range classes.

THUNDER specifications: guidance, accuracy, weight and range

Guidance	GAINS (GNSS-assisted INS); optional semi-active laser seeker
Accuracy	3 m CEP (GAINS + SAL); 10 m CEP (GAINS only)
P-31 bomb body	Mk 81 (250 lb)
P-31 gross weight / warhead	140 kg / 110 kg
P-31 range	27 km
P-32 bomb body	Mk 82 (500 lb)
P-32 gross weight / warhead	240 kg / 209 kg
P-32 range	24 km
Release altitude	Up to 40,000 ft

THUNDER variants: P-31, P-32 and P4

THUNDER P-31Guidance kit for the 250 lb Mk 81 bomb, 27 km range.

THUNDER P-32Guidance kit for the 500 lb Mk 82 bomb, 24 km range.

THUNDER P4Guidance kit for the 2,000 lb Mk 84 bomb, named in the 2021 contract announcement.

How did THUNDER come to be? Development and industrial background

THUNDER is HALCON's answer to a practical question: how to give existing unguided bombs a precision capability without replacing the bombs. The kits attach to the Mk 81 (250 lb) and Mk 82 (500 lb) bodies as THUNDER P-31 and P-32, and a P4 kit for the 2,000 lb Mk 84 was named in the 2021 contract announcement.

Published sources do not give an unveiling date. The earliest dated record is November 2021, when EDGE announced an AED 3.2 billion (USD 871 million) UAE contract for P-31, P-32 and P4 kits alongside DESERT STING weapons. HALCON's acting CEO later said the P-31 and P-32 had been in production for several years.

Where is THUNDER produced? Manufacturer, partners and local content

THUNDER is made by HALCON, EDGE Group's missile and precision-weapons house at Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi. HALCON designs and manufactures guided weapons, guidance kits and loitering munitions largely in-house.

EDR Magazine reported that THUNDER P3 kits were produced at 27 kits per shift and delivered in boxes of four. The figures give a sense of an established production line rather than a prototype programme. No foreign design origin is flagged in published sources for THUNDER, in contrast to AL TARIQ, which derives from a Denel Dynamics design.

Who has ordered or tested THUNDER? Contracts and service use

The UAE Armed Forces are the only confirmed operator. After the 2021 contract, HALCON received a further AED 2.14 billion UAE Armed Forces order for THUNDER P3 light precision-guided munitions at IDEX in February 2023.

On 29 July 2026 EDGE released images of UAE Air Force Mirage 2000-9 fighters carrying THUNDER-guided bombs, which Army Recognition reported as the clearest public evidence of operational use so far. No export customers have been announced. HALCON's acting CEO, quoted by Migflug in 2026, said the P-31 and P-32 were in operation with the local user, which is consistent with the images but is a statement about service, not a count of kits delivered.

THUNDER compared with AL TARIQ and DESERT STING

THUNDER, AL TARIQ and DESERT STING form a set of UAE-made air-delivered precision weapons in different weight classes. THUNDER P-31 has a 140 kg gross weight and a 27 km range, and the P-32 weighs 240 kg with a 24 km range. AL TARIQ-LR with wings extends beyond 120 km, while DESERT STING weapons weigh 23 to 45 kg.

THUNDER can be released from up to 40,000 ft and achieves 10 m CEP with GAINS alone or 3 m CEP with the optional semi-active laser seeker. That is the same 3 m CEP the DESERT STING 16 reports with its laser seeker.

THUNDER timeline: key dates from the 2021 contract to Mirage 2000-9 images

November 2019EDGE Group, HALCON's parent, is launched in Abu Dhabi from 25 consolidated entities.
November 2021At the Dubai Airshow EDGE announces an AED 3.2 billion UAE contract covering THUNDER P-31, P-32 and P4 kits and DESERT STING weapons.
February 2023At IDEX HALCON receives an AED 2.14 billion UAE contract for THUNDER P3 light precision-guided munitions.
2026HALCON's acting CEO says the P-31 and P-32 have been in production for several years and are in operation with the local user.
29 July 2026EDGE releases images of UAE Air Force Mirage 2000-9 fighters carrying THUNDER-guided bombs.

Which countries use THUNDER?

United Arab EmiratesIn service

About HALCON: who builds THUNDER

HALCON (EDGE Group)

HALCON is EDGE Group's missile and precision-weapons house, based at Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi. It designs and manufactures guided weapons, guidance kits and loitering munitions largely in-house. Besides the THUNDER kits, its products include the DESERT STING glide weapons, the HUNTER loitering munitions and the SKYKNIGHT air-defence missile. EDGE Group itself was created in November 2019 from more than 25 UAE entities.

HALCON THUNDER FAQ: range, accuracy and users

What is HALCON THUNDER?

THUNDER is a family of precision-guidance kits made by HALCON, part of EDGE Group, that convert Mk 80-series general-purpose bombs into guided weapons.

What is the range of THUNDER?

The THUNDER P-31 on a Mk 81 bomb has a range of 27 km, and the P-32 on a Mk 82 reaches 24 km. Release altitude is up to 40,000 ft.

How accurate is the THUNDER kit?

It achieves 3 m CEP with GNSS-assisted INS and the optional semi-active laser seeker, or 10 m CEP with GAINS guidance alone.

Which bombs can THUNDER be fitted to?

Kits exist for the 250 lb Mk 81 (P-31) and 500 lb Mk 82 (P-32), and the P4 kit was named for the 2,000 lb Mk 84.

Which aircraft use THUNDER?

In July 2026 EDGE released images of UAE Air Force Mirage 2000-9 fighters carrying THUNDER-guided bombs.

Which countries use THUNDER?

The United Arab Emirates. HALCON received UAE contracts in 2021 and, for the THUNDER P3, AED 2.14 billion in 2023.

What do THUNDER P-31 and P-32 mean?

THUNDER P-31 is a guidance kit for the 250 lb Mk 81 bomb with a 27 km range, and P-32 is a kit for the 500 lb Mk 82 with a 24 km range.

What is the THUNDER P4?

THUNDER P4 is a guidance kit for the 2,000 lb Mk 84 bomb, named in the November 2021 EDGE contract announcement. Published sources give no performance figures for it.

What is the THUNDER P3?

THUNDER P3 is a light precision-guided munition for which HALCON received an AED 2.14 billion UAE Armed Forces contract in February 2023. EDR Magazine reported kits made at 27 per shift.

How heavy are THUNDER bombs?

The THUNDER P-31 weighs 140 kg gross with a 110 kg warhead, and the P-32 weighs 240 kg with a 209 kg warhead.

What is GAINS in THUNDER?

GAINS is the GNSS-assisted inertial navigation system used by THUNDER. With GAINS alone the kit achieves 10 m CEP, and with the optional laser seeker 3 m CEP.

How high can THUNDER be released?

THUNDER kits can be released from altitudes of up to 40,000 ft.

Has THUNDER been shown on aircraft?

Yes. On 29 July 2026 EDGE released images of UAE Air Force Mirage 2000-9 fighters carrying THUNDER-guided bombs.

How much have THUNDER contracts been worth?

Publicly announced UAE contracts include AED 3.2 billion in November 2021 (shared with DESERT STING) and AED 2.14 billion in February 2023 for THUNDER P3.