Guidammo

Guidammo, or guided ammunition, is a class of projectiles equipped with an onboard guidance system that can adjust their flight path after launch to improve hit accuracy. By contrast, unguided munitions follow a ballistic path with little or no course correction. Guided munitions may consist of artillery shells, bombs, missiles, or other projectiles that incorporate sensors, control surfaces, propulsion, and processing power to steer toward a target.

Guidance methods include GPS/INS, semi-active or active laser guidance, imaging infrared or optical seekers, and radar guidance. Some systems operate in the terminal phase to home in on the target, while others use autonomous navigation to a preplanned area before terminal guidance. Many modern guidammo use a combination of navigation and terminal sensors to compensate for weather, smoke, and battlefield conditions.

Examples of guided munitions span multiple platforms. GPS-guided artillery shells such as the Excalibur extend artillery accuracy at long ranges. Laser-guided bombs, such as the Paveway family, remain widely used for air-to-ground missions. Missiles and cruise missiles, including air-to-surface types and sea-launched platforms like Tomahawk, commonly combine GPS/INS with terrain or imaging guidance. Guided mortars and small-caliber projectiles also exist in specialized forms.

Development and deployment of guidammo increased in the latter half of the 20th century, culminating in precision-strike capabilities that reduce collateral damage and improve effectiveness. Today, guided ammunition is a standard element of many armed forces, though it remains more expensive and technically demanding than unguided munitions and is subject to export controls and strategic considerations.