Weapons of Choice: The Development of Precision Guided Munitions by Paul G. Gillespie. University of Alabama Press (http://uapress.ua.edu), Box 870380, 20 Research Drive, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0380, 2006, 232 pages, $35.00 (hardcover).

During the brief history of aviation, our nation’s bombing efforts have progressed from using hundreds of bombers to destroy a single enemy target to sending a single aircraft to hit multiple targets precisely. Key to this revolutionary capability are precision-guided munitions (PGM), ranging from early radio-controlled bombs to the current generation of laser- and satellite-guided weapons, whose development we can attribute to both human innovation as well as evolutions in technology. These weapons, which permit more flexibility in aircraft delivery and enhance bombing accuracy, have become a key asset of our military. Moreover, their ability to destroy targets yet cause little to no collateral damage has changed national-security policy.
Weapons of Choice provides a detailed account of the US military’s development of PGMs, an effort that began during World War I and continues today in the form of numerous programs. Gillespie traces these weapons throughout aviation history, addressing their testing and employment as well as military and political players’ reaction to them. He not only discusses the effect of PGMs on military strategy and tactics for all major US conflicts from World War I to recent battles in the Gulf, but also analyzes how they have affected current airpower capabilities. The author limits his coverage to conventional guided bombs (not cruise missiles or surface-to-surface missiles), examining the innovation, technology, budgets, national-security policy, and politics that have shaped their development; he also uses the results of multiple Quadrennial Defense Reviews to assess the effect of PGMs on current national policy and force structure. His book exposes readers to the wide variety of guided weapons and explores reliability and logistical issues that raised concerns about employing them in battle.

Unfortunately, Gillespie does not delve into the recent emergence of the small-diameter bomb or mention capabilities that the military might like to see in future PGMs. Such omissions, however, do not detract from the book’s ability to educate readers on the current capabilities/limitations of these weapons and their effect on airpower. Lastly, Gillespie seems somewhat biased toward the Air Force despite the other services’ major contributions to the development of precision weapons.

Overall, Weapons of Choice offers an excellent history of PGMs. Airpower enthusiasts and novices alike will gain a better understanding not only of the important capabilities that the current generation of PGMs gives the military, but also of the adverse effect their absence had on earlier conflicts in our nation’s history.

Maj Evan Dertien, USAF
Yorktown, Virginia

Disclaimer

The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.

[ Home Page| Feedback? Contact the Editor ]