Which GBU decreases the likelihood of collateral damage within populated areas?

• A. GBU-31
• B. GBU-54
• C. GBU-38
• D. GBU-39

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that precision-guided munitions reduce collateral damage by hitting a small, exact point rather than creating a large blast footprint. The GBU-38 is a 500-pound JDAM that uses GPS/INS guidance to guide the warhead with a very tight aiming accuracy. That high precision means it’s more likely to strike the intended target and less likely to damage nearby structures or people in a populated area than larger, less precise bombs or systems that can be affected by weather or visibility.

Compared with the 2,000-pound GBU-31, which has a much larger blast radius, the GBU-38 minimizesOff-target effects. The GBU-54 relies on laser guidance, which can be degraded by poor weather or lighting, reducing certainty. The GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb is even smaller and designed specifically to minimize collateral, but in this context the selected choice emphasizes the precision of the 500-pound JDAM configuration.