Current Trends in Smart Weapons

摘要

Over the last thirty years or so major advances have been made in the development of seekers and sensors for use on smart weapons. The American public had its first look at smart weapons when they watched guided bombs used against targets in North Vietnam. Their most recent look has been at guided bombs being dropped on Iraq. However, during this time many advanced technologies have evolved that provide seekers and sensors for smart weapons that operate in bands of the electromagnetic spectrum that are not visible to the human eye. Therefore, they do not send back information (pictures) that can be used on television. This assessment will review the technologies currently being used or under development for the seekers and sensors of smart weapons, and identify trends for the future.