https://crsreports.congress.gov
Updated November 15, 2022
Defense Primer: U.S. Precision-Guided Munitions
The Department of Defense (DOD) defines a precision-
guided munition (PGM) as a “guided weapon intended to
destroy a point target and minimize collateral damage.”
This includes air- and ship-launched missiles, multiple
launched rockets, and guided bombs. PGMs typically use
the global positioning system (GPS), laser guidance, or
inertial navigation systems to improve a weapon’s accuracy
to reportedly less than 3 meters (approximately 10 feet).
Recent operations have heavily relied on PGMs for counter-
insurgency operations. The recent National Defense
Strategy articulates a renewed focus on great power
competition to combat anti-access/area denial (A2/AD)
systems. The wide proliferation of A2/AD is likely to
increase the operational utility of PGMs. In particular, peer
competitors like China and Russia have developed
sophisticated air defenses and anti-ship missiles that
increase the risk to U.S. forces entering and operating in
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 FY2019-
FY2023 ($ in millions)
Source: Department of Defense Budget FY2020-2023 P-1
Procurement budget requests, at https://comptroller.defense.gov/
Budget-Materials/.
The U.S. military has become reliant on PGMs to execute
military operations (Figure 1), being used in ground, air,
and naval operations. Over the past five years, DOD
in FY2019, procured 65,800 munitions for $4.6 billion;
in FY2020, procured 49,400 munitions for $4.8 billion;
in FY2021, procured 39,600 munitions for $4.3 billion;
in FY2022, appropriated $3.8 billion for 15,000
munitions; and
in FY2023, requested $4.4 billion for 16,600 munitions.
Air-Launched Precision Munitions
Paveway Laser Guided Bomb. The Paveway is a
family of guidance kits that attach to unguided bombs.
The assembly includes a seeker on the nose of the bomb
that looks for a laser to mark a target and a tail kit to
steer the bomb. The Paveway series was originally
developed during the Vietnam War to enable tactical
aircraft—like the F-4 Phantom—to deliver precise
munitions. Paveway has received many upgrades over
the decades, most recently the Paveway III (developed
in the 1990s), which improves low-altitude guidance.
Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). JDAM is a tail
kit that modifies unguided bombs—the 5,000 pound
Mk-82, 1,000 pound Mk-83, and 2,000 pound Mk-84
bombs—with GPS guidance (see Figure 2). When a
JDAM kit is attached, the weapon is designated a guided
bomb unit (GBU -31/32/38 depending on the weight of
the bomb). JDAM has a reported range of 13 nautical
miles. The first operational use of a JDAM was during
Operation Allied Freedom in Kosovo by a B-2 Spirit
bomber. JDAMs are used by all fixed-wing strike
aircraft.
Figure 2. GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition
Source: https://militaryedge.org/armaments/gbu-31cv1-jdam/.
Hellfire Missile. The first Hellfire was introduced into
service in 1982 on the Army’s AH-64 Apache, using
laser guidance to target tanks, bunkers, and structures.
Hellfire missiles have a maximum effective range of 4.3
nautical miles. During the late 1990s and early 2000s,
Hellfire missiles were introduced on the MQ-1 Predator,
and later the MQ-9 Reaper, enabling unmanned aerial
vehicles to provide a strike capability. Hellfire missiles
have become a preferred munition for operations in the
Middle East, particularly with increased utilization of
unmanned aircraft like MQ-1s and MQ-9s.
Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM). The Joint Air-
to-Ground Missile is designed to replace the Hellfire,
TOW, and Maverick missiles. JAGM uses a new
warhead/seeker paired with an existing AGM-114R
rocket motor to provide improved target acquisition and
discrimination. JAGM underwent testing starting in
2010, declaring initial operating capability in 2019
having successfully been integrated on the AH-64E
Apache and AH-1Z Super Cobra attack helicopters.
Joint Air-to-Surface Strike Munition (JASSM). The
JASSM is a 14-foot-long, 2,250-pound missile that can
be carried internally on B-1B Lancer and B-52
