Guided ground attack trades the Stuka's warning for stand-off precision

A force that gives up dive bombers still needs an aircraft and weapon for close support of ground formations. The scenario therefore includes a smaller guided bomb, roughly in the 500-pound class, to complement Fritz X. Such a weapon could be released from around five kilometres away, potentially beyond the range of the target's own weapons. Unlike a diving Ju 87, the controller might not be obvious to the troops being attacked, reducing the visible and audible warning that made the Stuka a psychological weapon. This advantage still consumes the constrained materials, aircraft, training, and logistics needed by the larger anti-ship weapon.