precision bombing
Accurate aerial attacks
Precision bombing is the targeting of specific military or strategic objectives rather than general areas.
The term emerged in World War II to distinguish attacks on factories, bridges, or installations from carpet bombing of cities.
Modern usage emphasizes guided munitions: The campaign relied on precision bombing to minimize civilian casualties.
The precision is often more aspirational than actual.
- Operation Desert Storm1991 allied Iraq offensive
- laser guidedSteered by light beam
- bunker busterWeapon piercing reinforced structures
- target acquisitionLocating and identifying an objective
- air raidAerial military attack
pinpoint accuracy · ground zero · civilian casualties · reconnaissance · infrared sensors · satellite navigation · flight path · surveillance · stealth aircraft · collateral damage · radar system · surgical strike · mission planning · decapitation strike · close air support · rules of engagement · Gulf War · air superiority
- Air Combatair strike, airstrikes, fighter pilot, combat aircraft, Sparrow
- air warfareair strike, airstrike, air raid, fighter escort, dogfight
- airstrikesairstrike, air strike, air raid, aerial bombardment, strafing
- bombingsIED, firebombing, bunker buster, air raid, blitz
- Military Strikesairstrike, air strike, drone strike, missile strike, surgical strike
- Gulf WarDesert Storm, Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Gulf War, Saddam Hussein
precision bombingcarpet bombing
Widespread aerial bombardment
saturation bombing · indiscriminate bombing · strategic bombing · firebombing
precision, bombing, bomb, bombed, bomber, bombers, precise, precisely, imprecise