Bomb damage assessment Bomb , or battle damage assessment , often referred to as BDA , is the practice of assessing damage inflicted on a target by an air campaign . It is part of the larger discipline of combat assessment ( CA ) . Assessment is performed using many techniques including footage from in - weapon cameras , from gun camera s , forces on the ground near the target , and follow - up visits to the target . History of bomb damage assessment . Originally , BDA was required due to the disconnected nature of aerial bombardment during World War I . It became necessary to send ground forces to an area to determine whether the damage was effective , or to overfly the target again . Either situation was difficult to accomplish safely . Starting with this conflict , specialized equipment has been used specifically for BDA type missions . Originally these were aircraft which were converted fighters or bombers , which were given a new " RQ " designation . In later conflicts , satellites became available , as well as high altitude surveillance planes such as the Lockheed U - 2 and the Lockheed SR - 71 . In more recent conflicts , special operations forces ( SOF ) have taken part in BDA , both through physical presence , and conducting overflies with equipment such as the RQ - 4 Global Hawk UAV . Modern times . Modern BDA , however , is more complex than determining the status of the target . More esoteric questions are asked of the BDA , such as Objectives of bomb damage analysis . The objectives of bomb damage analysis can be broken into four main categories . Munitions Effectiveness Assessment ( MEA ) . The determination of the proper function of the bomb or weapon . MEA asks / answers the question of " Did the munition function properly / as designed ? " Physical Damage Assessment ( PDA ) . The estimate of the quantitative extent of physical damage ( through munitions blast , fragmentation , and / or fire damage effects ) to a target resulting from the application of military force . This assessment is based upon observed or interpreted damage . Collateral and additional damage is also assessed in this process . Functional Damage Assessment . The estimates of the effect of military force to degrade / destroy the functional or operational capability of the target to perform its intended mission . It includes the level of success of the force applied relative to the operational objective established against the target . This assessment is inferred based upon all source information and includes an estimation of the time required for recuperation or replacement of the target . Target Systems Assessment . The broad assessment of the overall impact and effectiveness of the full spectrum of military force applied against the operation of an enemy target system or total combat effectiveness ( including significant subdivisions of the system ) relative to the operational objectives established . The future of BDA . The 1991 Gulf War is widely regarded as having the most effective and consistent BDA of any conflict to date . After the end of hostilities , the Battle Damage Assessment Working Group ( BDAWG ) was formed at the behest of MTIC , the " Military Targeting Intelligence Committee . " Largely , this group sought to create a standard lexicon of terminology for describing BDA , and to develop an outlook for the future of BDA . Possible future techniques involve using lasers or particle beam s in a manner similar to side scan sonar to map , in three dimensions , the condition of a target . Boeing has developed ( ) a system whereby a BDA " sensor " is towed a third of a kilometer behind the munition . This system is supposed to be capable of near real - time BDA by directly observing the munition ' s interaction with the target .