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1 [1] (November 6, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/dfspgd0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informn g the Iegislative debate since 1914 November 6, 2019 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 I. U.S. Military Spending on PGMs FY201 5- FY2019 ($ in millions) $6,000 $5,000 2,000 $0 FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FYZ019 Source: Department of Defense Budget FY2017-2020 P-I 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. In FY2020, DOD requested approximately $5.6 billion for more than 70,000 such weapons in 13 munitions programs. DOD projects to request $4.4 billion for 34,000 weapons in FY2021, $3.3 billion for 25,000 weapons in FY2022, $3.8 billion for 25,000 weapons in FY2023, and $3.4 billion for 16,000 weapons in FY2024. The following is a list of selected U.S. PGM programs. Air-Launched Precision Munitions e 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. e 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-3 1 Joint Direct Attack Munition Source: https://militaryedge.org/armaments/gbu-31 cvI -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-1 s 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 htps:/crsreportscongressgov