Precision-guided munition

A precision-guided munition (PGM), also called a smart weapon, smart munition, or smart bomb, is a type of <a href="/facts/Weapon/fV9QfoBh">weapon</a> system that integrates advanced guidance and control systems, such as <a href="/facts/Global_Positioning_System/DKVLnzF3">GPS</a>, <a href="/facts/Laser_guidance/8kIvSTAg">laser guidance</a>, or <a href="/facts/Infrared_search_and_track/YLjLE9hf">infrared</a> sensors, with various types of <a href="/facts/Ammunition/ajd1wm1I">munitions</a>, typically <a href="/facts/Missile/C5VwQClz">missiles</a> or <a href="/facts/Shell_(projectile)/a51oDRdu">artillery shells</a>, to allow for high-accuracy strikes against designated <a href="/facts/Targeting_(warfare)/eb17hS0K">targets.</a> PGMs are designed to precisely hit a predetermined target, typically with a margin of error (or <a href="/facts/Circular_error_probable/KF8Shk8G">circular error probable</a>, CEP) that is far smaller than conventional unguided munitions. Unlike unguided munitions, PGMs use active or passive <a href="/facts/Control_system/8CEjIDlS">control mechanisms</a> capable of steering the weapon towards its intended target. PGMs are capable of mid-flight course corrections, allowing them to adjust and hit the intended target even if conditions change. PGMs can be deployed from various platforms, including aircraft, naval ships, ground vehicles, ground-based launchers, and <a href="/facts/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle/qt87T19t">UAVs.</a> PGMs are primarily used in military operations to achieve greater accuracy, particularly in complex or sensitive environments, to reduce the risk to operators, lessen civilian harm, and minimize <a href="/facts/Collateral_damage/FvVRuCqy">collateral damage</a>. PGMs are considered an element of modern warfare to reduce unintended damage and civilian casualties. It is widely accepted that PGMs significantly outperform unguided weapons, particularly against fortified or mobile targets.
During the Persian Gulf War guided munitions accounted for only 9% of weapons fired but accounted for 75% of all successful hits. Despite guided weapons generally being used on more difficult targets, they were still 35 times more likely to destroy their targets per weapon dropped.
Because the damage effects of <a href="/facts/Explosive_weapon/vVzk0Q2t">explosive weapons</a> decrease with distance due to an inverse cube law, even modest improvements in accuracy (hence reduction in miss distance) enable a target to be attacked with fewer or smaller bombs. Thus, even if some <a href="/facts/Guided_bomb/LmLVUzbM">guided bombs</a> miss, fewer air crews are put at risk and the harm to civilians and the amount of collateral damage may be reduced.
The advent of precision-guided munitions resulted in the renaming of older, low-technology bombs as "<a href="/facts/Unguided_bomb/Pxd1KvCE">unguided bombs</a>", "dumb bombs", or "iron bombs".
Some challenges of precision-guided munitions include high development and production costs and the reliance of PGMs on advanced technologies like GPS make them vulnerable to <a href="/facts/Electronic_warfare/c6XGz9y0">electronic warfare</a> and <a href="/facts/Cyberattack/6PSQzq7y">cyberattacks</a>.

Precision-guided munition open-in-new

Precision-guided munition