precisionguided

Precision-guided munitions, or PGMs, are weapons designed to strike targets with high accuracy using onboard guidance systems. The term covers bombs, missiles, and other projectiles that adjust their flight path to reach a designated target rather than following a purely unguided trajectory.

Guidance methods used by PGMs include GPS with inertial navigation (GPS/INS), laser designation, imaging infrared (IIR) or electro-optical seekers, and radar seekers. Many PGMs combine sensors and control algorithms to improve accuracy, enabling engagement from stand-off distances where the operator or aircraft remains outside the target’s immediate danger zone.

Development and use: The concept matured during the late 20th century with laser-guided bombs and later expanded to GPS-guided munitions. Today PGMs are standard in many air forces and have been applied to bombs, missiles, and stand-off munitions. Notable examples include the Paveway laser-guided bombs, the JDAM family of GPS/INS-guided bombs, and air-to-ground missiles such as the AGM-114 Hellfire. The Small Diameter Bomb program introduced smaller, more aerodynamically efficient guided weapons.

Advantages and limitations: PGMs offer higher hit probability, reduced civilian casualties, and the ability to strike from safer stand-off ranges. They can lower collateral damage when used precisely. Limitations include weather and visibility constraints for optical and laser guidance, susceptibility to electronic countermeasures such as GPS jamming, and higher unit costs compared with unguided munitions. Some missions still require target designation or coordinates supplied by air or ground personnel.

Ongoing development focuses on multi-mode seekers and operation in GPS-denied environments to improve resilience and effectiveness.