Precision-guided munition

A smart bomb or smart ammunition is a kind of weapon that is able to hit a target more precisely. It will therefore do more damage to the intended target, and ideally, there will be less collateral damage. Officially, these bombs are called Precision-guided munition, or PGM.

Such ammunition or bombs have the ability to influence their course, after they have been launched.

Usually, such weapons have sensors, for example for:

• Detecting their position, for example by using GPS.
• detecting light, infrared or radar signals
• Empennage (also called tail assembly) that allows them to change their course
• A battery, as a source of energy.

During the First Gulf War guided munitions were only 9% of weapons fired, but they 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.

Precision-guided Munition Media

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  Afghan Air Force GBU-58 guided bomb strikes a Taliban compound in Farah Province, Afghanistan

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  A laser-guided GBU-24 (BLU-109 warhead variant) strikes its target

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  BOLT-117, the world's first laser-guided bomb

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  Diagram showing the operation of a laser-guided ammunition round. From a CIA report, 1986.

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  A F-22 releases a JDAM from its center internal bay while flying at supersonic speed

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  HOPE/HOSBO of the Luftwaffe with a combination of GPS/INS and electro-optical guidance

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  KAB-500S-E. Russian GLONASS-Guided Bomb