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Precision guided munitions or “smart bombs” as they are commonly known, are revolutionizing modern warfare. With their ability to hit targets with pinpoint accuracy, they are changing how military operations are conducted. This new class of weapons gives commanders unprecedented precision and minimizes risks to civilian lives and infrastructure compared to conventional unguided munitions. As the technology advances, precision guided munitions will play an increasingly vital role on the battlefield of the future.
Evolution of Precision Guided Weapons
The development of Precision Guided Munition Market can be traced back to World War 2 when early versions of television and radar guidance were experimented with but the technology was not advanced enough. It was during the Vietnam War in the 1960s that precision guided weapons first began entering service. The laser-guided bomb known as Paveway was first used over Vietnam and proved tremendously effective with hit rates over 80%. Since then, guidance technologies have improved significantly with new sensors and more powerful computers enabling ever-greater levels of precision.
Today, most advanced militaries have a wide array of precision guided munitions in their inventories. The United States has been at the forefront of their development with weapons like the GPS-enabled JDAM kits that can convert existing unguided bombs into smart munitions. Other popular weapons include laser-guided Maverick and Hellfire missiles, Joint Standoff Weapons, and the Small Diameter Bomb. Nations like Israel, France, Russia, and China have also developed their own indigenous precision weapons with continually improving accuracy.
Maximizing Effectiveness and Minimizing Costs
A key advantage of precision guided munitions is their immense effectiveness compared to unguided bombs or rockets. With the ability to destroy targets with single or few weapons, collateral damage can be reduced tremendously. This minimizes risks to civilians and limits damage to infrastructure which has political and economic benefits. It also means military engagements can achieve objectives with fewer munitions reducing operational costs. The JDAM kits developed by the US drastically boosted munitions effectiveness allowing existing bomb stocks to take out more targets.
Precision weapons also improve military efficiency as commanders can launch attacks from stand-off ranges outside the reach of enemy air defenses. This reduces risks to pilots and aircraft. Launch platforms like jets, helicopters, drones or ships can hit targets and retreat to safety without lingering above hostile territory. Additionally, precision munitions have given rise to new capabilities like infrastructure targeting to disable enemy facilities with minimal explosives. All these factors mean modern militaries can achieve more with less, conserving valuable stocks while decisively destroying the enemy.
Rapid Technological Progress
Technological advancement is continually pushing the boundaries of precision guided munitions. New sensors are enabling all-weather and night operations overcoming visibility limitations. GPS, inertial measurement units and terrains referenced systems allow pinpoint accuracy even without line of sight targeting using lasers. This has paved the way for long-range cruise missiles. Computing power is driving the development of new guidance and target recognition algorithms.
Weapons are getting smaller and lighter with the developing micro-electro-mechanical system technologies. The small diameter bomb weighs just 250lbs but has a precision of 5 meters. These smaller munitions open up new launch platforms like smaller tactical jets, helicopters and drones. Miniaturization is also driving the proliferation of loitering munitions, a category that includes kamikaze drones, which further boost stand-off strike abilities. Hypersonic weapons capable of precise strikes present an emerging threat. Advancements in materials are reducing costs and improving reliability. With ongoing research, precision guided munitions will get even smarter, smaller, longer range and more affordable. This will catapult their importance in the future battlespace.
Conclusion
Precision Guided Munition Market With their ability to hit targets with devastating effect while minimizing non-combatant casualties, precision guided munitions have transformed modern warfare. Their effectiveness, versatility and declining costs are increasing their utility for military forces across the world. As technologies that enable precision strikes from growing distances using smaller and more autonomous platforms continue advancing, smart munitions look set to dominate future battlefields. Precision has vastly improved efficiency in achieving military objectives while reducing unintended damage. Their enormous capabilities are changing the character of warfare, tilting scales in conflicts, and will cement their significance in coming decades. Precision guided munitions have truly become a force multiplier that is hard to overlook in future defense planning.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
