The Technology of Precision Guidance -- Changing Weapon Priorities, New Risks, New Opportunities

Abstract

For centuries most of the things shot by military men at their enemies have missed their target. The remarkable thing about the new generation is that it is now possible for forces to possess weapons in large numbers each of which has a high probability of hitting its target with a single shot. This article discusses the implications of these weapons, which are officially called 'precision-guided munitions' or 'PGMs.' Usually, this simply means a bomb or missile that is guided in its terminal phase. Thus, the term includes many anti- tank weapons (including some which receive steering signals over thin wires) and air-defense missiles, as well as the laser-guided bombs which attracted so much public attention.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1975
Accession Number
ADA026653

Entities

People

  • James Digby

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Arms Control
  • Geography
  • Guided Bombs
  • Guided Projectiles
  • Inertial Navigation
  • National Security
  • Navigation
  • Precision-Guided Munitions
  • Remotely Piloted Vehicles
  • Warfare
  • Weapon Control
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Munitions and Ordnance Engineering
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy