Royal Air Force (RAF) capabilities for missions over Libya have been increased with the arrival of Enhanced Paveway III bombs at Gioia del Colle air base in Southern Italy.

The 2,000-pound (907kg) bombs, which are designed to punch through the roof or wall of a hardened building, have been prepared for use and could be loaded onto an aircraft and flown to attack a Gaddafi-regime target in Libya in just a few hours.

The arrival of the Enhanced Paveway III bombs adds to a suite of complementary air-to-ground weapons carried by the RAF's Typhoon and Tornado aircraft.

With Enhanced Paveway II, Paveway IV, and dual-mode seeker Brimstone, the RAF was already equipped to strike a range of targets while minimising collateral damage.

Enhanced Paveway III gives the RAF an additional capability to attack hardened structures in Libya like command centres or communications nodes. Such targets are key to disrupting regime control of its forces, preventing attacks that could target civilians.