Laser-guided smart bombs use a laser designator to paint the target. The bomb's seeker head locks onto the laser energy reflected from the target and guides the bomb to its destination. Laser-guided bombs are very accurate, but they require a clear line of sight between the designator and the target.
GPS-guided smart bombs use the Global Positioning System (GPS) to find their targets. The bomb's GPS receiver receives signals from GPS satellites and calculates the bomb's position and the target's position. The bomb then uses this information to guide itself to the target. GPS-guided bombs are less accurate than laser-guided bombs, but they can be used in any weather or visibility conditions.
In addition to laser-guided and GPS-guided smart bombs, there are a number of other types of smart bombs that use different guidance systems, such as radar-guided, infrared-guided, and terrain-following guidance systems.
How Laser-Guided Smart Bombs Work
1. A laser designator operator, typically in a ground unit, paints the target with a low-power laser beam.
2. The laser light, bouncing off a special tag affixed or sprayed to the target, or simply shining off the target if reflective enough, is detected by the bomb's seeker head.
3. The seeker head tracks the reflected beam's source, keeping the bomb on track with minor corrections to the trajectory for accuracy until it strikes the target.
How GPS-Guided Smart Bombs Work
1. The bomb's GPS receiver picks up signals from nearby GPS satellites.
2. Using mathematical formulae, the receiver compares its own location with the programmed coordinates of its intended target.
3. This data is converted into small adjustment signals that manipulate the bomb's tail fins for accurate guidance on its path.
Smart bombs are a valuable weapon for military forces, providing a level of accuracy and effectiveness that was not possible with unguided bombs.
