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Updated August 25, 2020
Defense Primer: U.S. Precision-Guided Munitions
The Department of Defense (DOD) defines a precision-
developed during the Vietnam War to enable tactical
guided munition (PGM) as a “guided weapon intended to
aircraft—like the F-4 Phantom—to deliver precise
destroy a point target and minimize collateral damage.”
munitions. Paveway has received many upgrades over
This includes air- and ship-launched missiles, multiple
the decades, most recently the Paveway III (developed
launched rockets, and guided bombs. PGMs typically use
in the 1990s), which improves low-altitude guidance.
the global positioning system (GPS), laser guidance, or
Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). JDAM is a tail
inertial navigation systems to improve a weapon’s accuracy
kit that modifies unguided bombs—the 5,000 pound
to reportedly less than 3 meters (approximately 10 feet).
Mk-82, 1,000 pound Mk-83, and 2,000 pound Mk-84
bombs—with GPS guidance (see Figure 2). When a
Recent operations have heavily relied on PGMs for counter-
insurgency operations. The recent National Defense
JDAM kit is attached, the weapon is designated a guided
Strategy articulates a renewed focus on great power
bomb unit (GBU -31/32/38 depending on the weight of
competition to combat anti-access/area denial (A2/AD)
the bomb). JDAM has a reported range of 13 nautical
systems. The wide proliferation of A2/AD is likely to
miles. The first operational use of a JDAM was during
increase the operational utility of PGMs. In particular, peer
Operation Allied Freedom in Kosovo by a B-2 Spirit
competitors like China and Russia have developed
bomber. JDAMs are used by all fixed-wing strike
sophisticated air defenses and anti-ship missiles that
aircraft.
increase the risk to U.S. forces entering and operating in
Figure 2. GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition
these regions. As a result, DOD has argued it requires
longer-range precision munitions to meet these new threats.
Figure 1. U.S. Military Spending on PGMs FY2017-
FY2021 ($ in millions)
$6,000
$5,000
$4,000
$3,000
Source: https://militaryedge.org/armaments/gbu-31cv1-jdam/.
$2,000
Hellfire Missile. The first Hellfire was introduced into
$1,000
service in 1982 on the Army’s AH-64 Apache, using
laser guidance to target tanks, bunkers, and structures.
$0
Hellfire missiles have a maximum effective range of 4.3
FY2017 FY2018 FY2019 FY2020 FY2021
nautical miles. During the late 1990s and early 2000s,
Source: Department of Defense Budget FY2018-2021 P-1
Hellfire missiles were introduced on the MQ-1 Predator,
Procurement budget requests, at https://comptrol er.defense.gov/
and later the MQ-9 Reaper, enabling unmanned aerial
Budget-Materials/.
vehicles to provide a strike capability. Hellfire missiles
The U.S. military has become reliant on PGMs to execute
have become a preferred munition for operations in the
military operations (Figure 1), being used in ground, air,
Middle East, particularly with increased utilization of
and naval operations. In FY2020, DOD requested
unmanned aircraft like MQ-1s and MQ-9s.
approximately $5.6 billion for more than 70,000 such
Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM). The Joint Air-
weapons in 13 munitions programs. DOD projects to
to-Ground Missile is designed to replace the Hellfire,
request $4.4 billion for 34,000 weapons in FY2021, $3.3
TOW, and Maverick missiles. JAGM uses a new
billion for 25,000 weapons in FY2022, $3.8 billion for
warhead/seeker paired with an existing AGM-114R
25,000 weapons in FY2023, and $3.4 billion for 16,000
rocket motor to provide improved target acquisition and
weapons in FY2024. The following is a list of selected U.S.
discrimination. JAGM underwent testing starting in
PGM programs.
2010, declaring initial operating capability in 2019
Air-Launched Precision Munitions
having successfully been integrated on the AH-64E
Apache and AH-1Z Super Cobra attack helicopters.
Paveway Laser Guided Bomb. The Paveway is a
Joint Air-to-Surface Strike Munition (JASSM). The
family of guidance kits that attach to unguided bombs.
JASSM is a 14-foot-long, 2,250-pound missile that can
The assembly includes a seeker on the nose of the bomb
be carried internally on B-1B Lancer and B-52
that looks for a laser to mark a target and a tail kit to
Stratofortress aircraft, and externally on a number of
steer the bomb. The Paveway series was originally
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Defense Primer: U.S. Precision-Guided Munitions
tactical fighters, including the F-16 Falcon, F-15E Strike
Guided Multiple Rocket Launch System (GMLRS).
Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet (see Figure 3), F/A-18E/F Super
GMLRS is a GPS-guided, 227-millimeter rocket that
Hornet, and F-35 Lightning II. In 2004, the Air Force
was developed in 1999 and entered service in 2003. It is
developed an extended range version of the JASSM.
capable of being launched from the M270 multiple
The JASSM-ER uses the same body as the previous
launch rocket system (MLRS) and the M142 HIMARS.
version, adding an improved infrared seeker, a two-way
Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). The PrSM is a new
datalink, and enhanced anti-jam GPS receiver.
development program intended to replace ATACMS.
Figure 3. JASSM Attached to an F/A-18D Hornet
PrSM can launch from the M270 and HIMARS. The
Army states that PrSM is designed to be able to launch
two missiles in a launcher pod compared to ATACMS’s
single missile, have a range in excess of 400 kilometers,
and have an anti-jam GPS antenna. The Army plans to
have the PrSM enter operational service in FY2023.
Naval Precision Munitions
Tomahawk Cruise Missile. The Tomahawk was
developed during the early- to mid-1970s. It is launched
from submarines and from surface combatants.
Tomahawk has a reported range of 870 NM at speeds of
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F-
Mach 0.85, and uses GPS and inertial navigation
18D_Hornet_(HN-466)Tour_de_Sky_2014-08-09_06_JDAM_AGM-
system. The Tomahawk Block IV is the latest variant.
154.JPG.
Standard Missile-6 (SM-6). The Standard Missile-6
Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). LRASM
was originally designed as an anti-aircraft missile,
was conceived by the Defense Advanced Research
derived from the Navy’s SM-2 Block IV in 2004. Since
Projects Agency, using a JASSM missile body to
its development, the SM-6 has been integrated into the
replace the AGM-88 Harpoon. Flight testing began in
Navy’s Naval Integrated Fires-Counter Air (NIF-CA)
2012 with the B-1B and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
program to strike enemy surface ships. The missile was
LRASM uses radio-frequency sensors and electro-
designed to receive targeting information from AEGIS
optical/infrared seekers for guidance.
radars and the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye in flight.
Ground-Launched Precision Munitions
Naval Strike Missile (NSM). The NSM (see Figure 5)
is an anti-ship low observable cruise missile capable of
Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). ATACMS
flying close the surface of the ocean to avoid radar
is a 610-millimeter rocket that can be launched from
detection. The NSM is designed to fly multiple flight
either the M270 MLRS (two rockets) or the M142 High
profiles—different altitudes and speeds—with effective
Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) (one
ranges of between 100 and 300 nautical miles at a cruise
rocket) (see Figure 4). ATACMS was developed in the
speed of up to 0.9 Mach. The Navy has integrated the
1980s and later updated to use GPS guidance. In 2016,
NSM on its Littoral Combat Ship, which deployed to the
then-Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced that
Pacific region in September 2019.
the Strategic Capabilities Office had developed a new
seeker for the ATACMS to target ships, enabling
Figure 5. NSM at Launch
multidomain operations.
Figure 4. ATACMS Launching
Source: https://www.naval-technology.com/news/us-navys-gabriel e-
giffords-lcs-launches-naval-strike-missile/.
CRS Products
CRS Report R45996, Precision-Guided Munitions: Background and
Issues for Congress, by John R. Hoehn.
Source: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed-
martin/mfc/pc/army-tacticle-missile-system-block-ia-unitary-atacms/
mfc-atacms-block-1a-unitary-pc.pdf.
John R. Hoehn, Analyst in Military Capabilities and
Programs
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Defense Primer: U.S. Precision-Guided Munitions
IF11353
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