Guideds

Guideds is a term occasionally used to describe guided weapons or other munitions equipped with a guidance system that steers a payload toward a target. The term is not standard in military or academic literature; more common usage is guided weapons, guided missiles, or precision-guided munitions. In general, a guided system combines a payload with a guidance and control suite that determines the desired trajectory and implements steering commands.

A typical guided weapon consists of a warhead or payload, a guidance unit, a control actuation mechanism, and propulsion. The guidance unit processes sensor data and reference coordinates to calculate a path to the target, while the control mechanism actuates fins, canards, or thrusters to adjust flight path. Propulsion provides the necessary range and speed, and fuzing handles warhead detonation.

Guidance methods vary. Command guidance relies on updates from external sources; homing guidance uses onboard sensors (active radar, semi-active radar, infrared, laser). Satellite navigation like GPS/GLONASS provides midcourse positioning, often combined with inertial navigation. Terminal guidance concentrates guidance cues near impact, enabling high-precision strikes. Autonomous guidance aims to complete the mission with minimal external input.

Historically, guided weapons arose from the desire to increase accuracy and reduce collateral damage, evolving from radio-command devices to sophisticated sensor-fed systems. Today, guided weapons are integral to air, naval, and ground forces, enabling precision engagement across multiple domains. The plural form "guideds" is rarely used outside specific contexts; standard terminology remains guided weapons or precision-guided munitions.