A statistical measure of weapon accuracy, defined as the radius of a circle within which 50% of the weapons fired or dropped are expected to impact. CEP is commonly used to describe the precision of bombs, missiles, and artillery systems.
Key characteristics:
- Definition: If a weapon has a CEP of 10 meters, half of the munitions will land within 10 meters of the aim point, while the other half may land outside.
- Precision indicator: The smaller the CEP, the more accurate the weapon system.
- Factors affecting CEP: Weapon guidance (GPS, INS, laser), release parameters, system errors, and environmental factors (wind, terrain, etc.).
- Comparisons:
- Unguided bombs may have a CEP of 100–300 meters.
- PGMs (LGBs, JDAMs) typically achieve a CEP of 5–10 meters.
- Unguided bombs may have a CEP of 100–300 meters.
- Limitations: CEP only describes statistical average accuracy. It does not guarantee every round falls within the circle. Outliers always exist.
Application in DCS World
- DCS simulates relative accuracy differences between unguided bombs and PGMs, giving players a clear sense of why CEP matters. JDAMs and LGBs reliably hit within a few meters of the target point.
- CEP in DCS is simplified: environmental effects like GPS jamming, INS drift, or seeker errors are rarely modeled, making weapons more accurate than their real-world counterparts.
- Cadets should compare unguided bomb CEPs vs. PGM CEPs in training missions to understand the tactical implications of weapon choice. This highlights why proper delivery technique and weapon selection are critical in both real-world and DCS operations.