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8 Modern Weapons: Possibilities and Limitations
Wide application and constant improvement of precision-guided munitions
require the study of its tactical and technical characteristics, combat possibilities,
and means of use, as well as the development and improvement of constant methods
of countering this type of weapons. This section contains only the description of
precision-guided munitions with semi-active laser homing system as well as the
description of option of building a complex to protect objects from such weapons.
As of now, multiple high precision munitions are used by many countries in the
world. Widely popular are HPM with semi-active laser self-guidance heads. The
main advantages of this type of guidance systems are as follows:
– greater distance of action as compared to television homing heads;
– high angular resolution;
– possibility to operate during any time of the day;
– increased noise immunity as compared to passive optical homing heads;
– small size and weight.
Disadvantages of semi-active laser guidance systems include the following:
– dependence of the range of action on weather conditions;
– sensitivity to the effects of natural and artificial interference;
– the necessity of constant illumination of the target with a laser designator.
Semi-active laser homing heads are used in guided bomb units and air-to-surface
aircraft guided missiles. Guided aviation missiles are aircrafts equipped with a
warhead for destruction of air, ground, and supermarine targets, as well as a homing
system [2].
Analysis of the main tactical and technical characteristics of air-to-surface aircraft
guided missiles allows us to conclude that this type of precision-guided munitions is
used in the altitude range of 0.2–10 km and at ranges of 3–150 km. Average speeds
are 300–500 meters per second [19]. Guided bomb units have high hitting accuracy
and low speed and are designed to destroy point, protected and buried mobile and
stationary targets, air strips, bridges and other industrial and military facilities.
GBU are used within the altitude range of 0.6–12 km and distance range of 1–
30 km. Some controlled bombs (GBU-39, AGM-154) can be used at distances up to
60–75 km due to their modernized design. Equipping these PGM with rocket engines
will allow increasing their range of use to 150 km (AGM-130C). Average speeds of
guided bomb units do not exceed 300 m/s [20].
Figure 8.11 shows images of the AGM-114 Hellfire and the GBU Paveway III
with a semi-active laser homing head
Technical characteristics of GAM and GBU define the ways and possibilities of
their use. GAM are applied at distances greater than GBU and have the advantage
in case of limitations of the possibility of the carrier aircraft to approach the attack
target. In turn, GBU are better at destroying protected and buried targets due to their
greater damaging effect. This is due to the fact that the ratio of the GBU warhead to
its total weight is about 0.7–0.9, while for GAM this value is within 0.2–0.5. This
8 Modern Weapons: Possibilities and Limitations
Wide application and constant improvement of precision-guided munitions
require the study of its tactical and technical characteristics, combat possibilities,
and means of use, as well as the development and improvement of constant methods
of countering this type of weapons. This section contains only the description of
precision-guided munitions with semi-active laser homing system as well as the
description of option of building a complex to protect objects from such weapons.
As of now, multiple high precision munitions are used by many countries in the
world. Widely popular are HPM with semi-active laser self-guidance heads. The
main advantages of this type of guidance systems are as follows:
– greater distance of action as compared to television homing heads;
– high angular resolution;
– possibility to operate during any time of the day;
– increased noise immunity as compared to passive optical homing heads;
– small size and weight.
Disadvantages of semi-active laser guidance systems include the following:
– dependence of the range of action on weather conditions;
– sensitivity to the effects of natural and artificial interference;
– the necessity of constant illumination of the target with a laser designator.
Semi-active laser homing heads are used in guided bomb units and air-to-surface
aircraft guided missiles. Guided aviation missiles are aircrafts equipped with a
warhead for destruction of air, ground, and supermarine targets, as well as a homing
system [2].
Analysis of the main tactical and technical characteristics of air-to-surface aircraft
guided missiles allows us to conclude that this type of precision-guided munitions is
used in the altitude range of 0.2–10 km and at ranges of 3–150 km. Average speeds
are 300–500 meters per second [19]. Guided bomb units have high hitting accuracy
and low speed and are designed to destroy point, protected and buried mobile and
stationary targets, air strips, bridges and other industrial and military facilities.
GBU are used within the altitude range of 0.6–12 km and distance range of 1–
30 km. Some controlled bombs (GBU-39, AGM-154) can be used at distances up to
60–75 km due to their modernized design. Equipping these PGM with rocket engines
will allow increasing their range of use to 150 km (AGM-130C). Average speeds of
guided bomb units do not exceed 300 m/s [20].
Figure 8.11 shows images of the AGM-114 Hellfire and the GBU Paveway III
with a semi-active laser homing head
Technical characteristics of GAM and GBU define the ways and possibilities of
their use. GAM are applied at distances greater than GBU and have the advantage
in case of limitations of the possibility of the carrier aircraft to approach the attack
target. In turn, GBU are better at destroying protected and buried targets due to their
greater damaging effect. This is due to the fact that the ratio of the GBU warhead to
its total weight is about 0.7–0.9, while for GAM this value is within 0.2–0.5. This