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2024-01-01
PGMs: Bombs with Brains Change Face of War
The days of indiscriminate bombing campaigns and widespread collateral damage are fading into history. Enter the era of precision-guided munitions (PGMs), the brainiacs of the battlefield that are revolutionising warfare with their pinpoint accuracy and surgical strike capabilities.
These smart bombs are more than just explosives; they are intricate packages of technology equipped with sophisticated guidance systems (typically in the front of the precision munition), a payload, and fins, that can find their way to a target with the deadly precision of a laser surgeon.
Understanding the functionality of PGMs unveils their diversity in guidance systems, each tailored for specific operational needs.
Well-known precision guided munitions include:
Radio-controlled Bombs
Radio-controlled, or command guidance, is a type of guidance in which a ground station or aircraft relays signals to guided munitions via radio control or through a wire connecting the missile to the launcher. This guidance system allows for precise adjustments en route to the target.
Electro-optical Bombs
Electro-optical bombs are precision weapons that are guided by a television camera or TV seeker. The camera transmits a bird’s eye view of the target back to a controlling aircraft, which then steers the bomb towards the target. TV seekers were first introduced in the Korean War in the 1960s, where the United States (US) military used television cameras and flare sights to steer the bomb until the flare superimposed the target.
This strategic advancement not only increased the accuracy of strikes but also reduced the margin of error and collateral damage.
Infrared-guided Bombs
Infrared-guided bombs utilise passive infrared homing, employing emitted infrared light from targets for precise tracking. Termed ‘heat-seekers,’ these smart munitions operate silently, tracking targets without alerting them. Their ‘drop and forget’ nature allows autonomous operation without overt signals, yet they remain vulnerable to basic countermeasures like decoy flares.
Despite their stealthy approach, these munitions excel in detecting and pursuing targets by homing in on the infrared emissions, showcasing both their effectiveness and susceptibility to simple evasive measures.
Laser guided Bombs
A laser-guided bomb uses semi-active laser guidance to strike a designated target. How these smart bombs work is by using on-board electronics to track targets that are designated by a laser, usually in the infrared spectrum, and adjusting their glide path to accurately strike a target.
The weapon tracks a light signature, and not the object itself, meaning the target must be illuminated from a separate source, either by ground forces, by a pod on the attacking aircraft, or by a separate support aircraft.
Radar-guided Bomb
Two radar guidance systems can be used on precision munitions, active radar, and semi-active radar guidance.
Radar guidance systems detect and home in on targets by sensing electromagnetic energy reflected from the target’s surface. The source of the reflected radiation is a radar transmitter.
In the instance of weapons with active radar guidance, the transmitter is situated within the missile, and in the case of semi active guidance, it is in the launch aircraft.
In both scenarios, the transmitter directs electromagnetic radiation towards the target, which reflects off it and returns to the receiving antenna of the smart bomb. This reflected energy provides crucial information for the guidance computer to ascertain the target’s direction.
Satellite-guided Bombs
A satellite-navigated munition, sometimes referred to as a Global Positioning System (GPS) guided missile, utilises satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning. It allows small electronic receivers in the guided munition to determine their location with high precision. The GPS guided missile will then strike the given coordinates of the target.
These precision weapons are distinctive in that they can operate in all weather conditions. However, the precision of these weapons is dependent on the precision of the measurement system used for location determination and the precision in setting the coordinates of the target.
If the targeting information is correct, GPS guided missiles or satellite-guided weapons are significantly more likely to achieve a successful strike in any weather condition than any other precision weapons.
A satellite navigation system with global coverage may be termed a global navigation satellite system (GNSS).
As of September 2020, GNSS comprises the US Global Positioning System (GPS), Russia’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and the European Union’s Galileo.
Advanced PGM Systems
Advanced PGM systems utilise GNSS/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) as well as another guidance system.
Precision guided system manufacturers have developed these advanced ’hybrid‘ PGM systems to enhance accuracy and mission flexibility.
During the recently-concluded Dubai Airshow EDGE entity AL TARIQ announced the successful completion of the feasibility studies for the integration of its long-range precision-guided munitions (LR-PGMs) on the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Tejas LCA.
The Tejas LCA is an India-made single-engine, delta wing light multirole combat aircraft, with three production versions, the Mark 1, Mark 1A and trainer version. Full integration and qualification of AL TARIQ’s LR-PGMs on HAL’s Tejas LCA is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2024.
Precision Guiding with Al TARIQ
AL TARIQ is an advanced manufacturer of highly modular PGM kits that give air forces superior operational flexibility. AL TARIQ’s PGMs allow militaries to carry fewer weapons types during operations while retaining multiple guidance options for each weapon release. Al TARIQ modular family of Precision Guided kits are for the 120/250/450 kg series of aerial bombs. It has all-weather, day or night operational capability and is designed to fulfil operational needs for high accuracy, long stand-off range engagements against stationary, moving and re-locatable targets in a GPS denied environment.
AL TARIQ is an advanced manufacturer of highly modular PGM kits that give air forces superior operational flexibility. AL TARIQ’s PGMs allow militaries to carry fewer weapons types during operations while retaining multiple guidance options for each weapon release. Al TARIQ modular family of Precision Guided kits are for the 120/250/450 kg series of aerial bombs. It has all-weather, day or night operational capability and is designed to fulfil operational needs for high accuracy, long stand-off range engagements against stationary, moving and re-locatable targets in a GPS denied environment.
The system enables enhanced targeting accuracy by utilising Dual mode Seekers. For example, AL TARIQ’s PGM kits can utilise GNSS/INS with semi-active laser (SAL) or imaging infrared (IIR) and automatic target recognition (ATR).
The AL TARIQ LR-PGMs are designed to fit onto the Mark 80 series and the Indian designed High-Speed Low Drag (HSLD) series of aerial munitions. The addition of a wing kit converts the AL TARIQ-S (Standard Range) to the AL TARIQ-LR (Long Range), extending the stand-off range from 45km to 120km.
Game-changer
Precision-guided munitions are a game-changer on the battlefield. From dumb bombs to deadly smart missiles, PGMs are redefining the meaning of accuracy.
The next time you hear about a bombing raid, remember: it’s not just about brute force anymore. It’s about a silent dance of technology, where bombs with brains are changing the face of war, one target at a time.
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