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PLA Guided Bombs

T echnical Report APA-T R-2009-0808

Dr Carlo Kopp, AFAIAA, SMIEEE, PEng

Dr Martin Andrew, RAAF(Retd)
August 2009
Updated January, 2011
Updated April, 2012
Text © 2009-2012 Carlo Kopp
Text © 2011 Martin Andrew
Line Artwork © 2009 Carlo Kopp

LT-3 precision guided bomb system (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

Background
PLA-AF and PLA-N Electro-Optical Guided Bombs

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 Luoyang/CASC LT -2/LS-500J Laser Guided Bomb
Luoyang/CASC GB1 P-Nav Laser Guided Bomb
Luoyang/CASC LT -3 Laser / Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Bomb
PLA-AF and PLA-N Inertially Guided Bombs
Luoyang/CASC FT -1/FT -2 Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Bomb
Luoyang/CASC FT -3/FT -4 Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Bomb
Luoyang/CASC FT -5 Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Bomb
Luoyang/CASC FT -6 Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Bomb
Luoyang/CASC LS-6 Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Bomb Family
Notes/References

Introduction

The PLA-AF and PLA-N now operate a diverse mix of indigenously manufactured and
imported Russian guided bombs. To date the most widely deployed indigenous weapon is
the very basic LT-2 laser guided bomb, similar in capabilities to the Paveway I/II series.
More recent weapon designs are considerably more sophisticated. The FT and LS series of
satellite aided inertially guided weapons are analogues to the US JDAM series, including
glide wing equipped variants. The LT-3 is a fusion of satellite aided inertial guidance
technology and a gimballed P-nav laser seeker, this weapon being an analogue to the very
recent US EGBU-24 and GBU-54/55/56(V)/B Laser JDAM.

PLA-AF and PLA-N Electro-Optical Guided Bombs

Luoyang/CASC LT-2/LS-500J Laser Guided Bomb

LT-2 LGB (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

The LT-2 (Ler Ting 2) LGB is China's first volume production guided bomb. The basic bomb
kit is sized for a 500 kg / 1,000 lb class general purpose bomb body. The seeker uses a
Paveway I/II style annular airfoil seeker with a conventional quadrant detection assembly.
The tailkit is similar in configuration to the Paveway I. The design will use a bang-bang
guidance control law without roll stabilisation. Control is effected by trailing edge surfaces

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on the cruciform tail in an arrangement similar to the GNPP KAB-500L.

The LT-2 has been widely deployed on PLA-AF combat aircraft, including the JH-7 Flying
Leopard / Flounder, A-5/Q-5 Fantan, FC-1, J-8B Finback, and J-10 Sinocanard.

Specifications
Length 3580mm
Diameter 380mm
Tail fin span 950mm
Weight 570kg
Ground designating mode accuracy CEP≤5m
A/C designating mode accuracy CEP≤6.5m
Launching speed ≥230m/s
Launching mode level, dive, toss
Wind speed ≤10m/s
Damage Capability Equivalent to 500kg low-drag aero bombs
Source: http://www.loec.cn/e32.html

Front: LT-2 LGB (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

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Above: LT-2 LGBs on a precision strike variant of the A-5C Fantan. Note the nose mounted laser targeting device
and conformal ventral fuel tank. Below: LT-2 on Q-5M Fantan (Chinese internet).

LT-2 on the JH-7A (Chinese internet).

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Three images showing the loading of the LT-2 on the JH-7A (Chinese internet).

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 Luoyang/CASC GB1 P-Nav Laser Guided Bomb

GB-1 LGB at Zhuhai 2010 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

A new weapon displayed at the Zhuhai 2008 Airshow was the GB1, a derivative of the LT-2
500 kg Laser Guided Bomb, with a proportional navigation seeker design. The seeker is
closest in appearance to the Russian KBTochmash/Nudelman P-nav seeker developed for the
latest weapons in the GNPP KAB-1500LG series, with a planar optical window in the seeker
nose section.
The guidance kit otherwise appears identical to the existing LT-2 series design, employing
what appears to be an identical tail control tailkit and fixed canard stabilisers.

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GB1 LGB P-nav seeker (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

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Luoyang/CASC LT-3 Laser / Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Bomb

LT-3 guided bomb system (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

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The “Lerting” (Thunderbolt) LT-3 is 3.58m long, has a diameter of 0.38 m and the unfolded
wings have a [cited] span of 0.95m. It weighs 564 kg and has a range of up to 24km. It
can penetrate up to 1.5 m of steel reinforced concrete 1.

The LT-3 is the most sophisticated guided bomb developed to date by Chinese industry. This
weapon combines a satellite/inertial guidance package in a tailkit derived from the LS-6 250
kg glidebomb, and a gimballed proportional navigation semi-active laser homing seeker.

The weapon employs a strap-on strake kit similar to that used with the GBU-31/32 JDAM
series. The gimballed detector platform is closest in concept to the TI Paveway III LLLGB
design - the LT-3 occupies the same capability niche as the US enhanced EGBU-24 or GBU-
54/55/56(V)/B Laser JDAM (L JDAM) weapons.

Boeing GBU-55(V)/B LJDAM on F-16C (Boeing).

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Rear: LT-3 guided bomb system (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

LT-3 P-Nav SALH seeker (Chinese internet).

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LT-3 P-Nav SALH seeker gimbal. Note the application of an interference filter coating to the optical detector lens
to improve IR background rejection (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

PLA-AF and PLA-N Inertially Guided Bombs

Luoyang/CASC FT-1/FT-2 Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Bomb

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 FT-1 guided bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

FT-2 guided glide bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

The FT-1/FT-2 are satellite/inertial guidance kits for a 500 kg / 1,000 lb class general
purpose bomb body. Cited range performance for the FT-1 is very close to the GBU-32 JDAM,
the cited CEP of ~30 m suggests C/A mode guidance rather than secure Glonass.

The ‘Fei Ting 2’ is Feiting 1 GPS guided bomb (JDAM equivalent) with a strap on wing kit
which increases its range from 18km to between 60 to 90 km. The FT-6 is the FT-3 with the
strap on folding wing.

The family of streamlined bombs come in 50, 100, 250 and 500kg but only the 250 and
500kg class bombs are used as PGMs. The Feiting 2 and 6 have a realistic combat range of
between 40 ~ 60 km 1.

The FT-1 employs strap-on strakes similar to the JDAM series. The FT-2 employs a planar
wing kit similar to the Kerkanya/JDAM-ER.

FT-1 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

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FT-1 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

FT-1 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

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 FT-1 guided bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

FT-2 guided glide bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

FT-2 guided glide bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

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 FT-2 guided glide bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

FT-1 on a JH-7A Flying Leopard (Chinese internet).

Luoyang/CASC FT-3/FT-4 Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Bomb

FT-3 guided bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

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 FT-4 guided glide bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

The FT-3/FT-4 are satellite/inertial guidance kits for a 250 kg / 500 lb class general purpose
bomb body.

The FT-3 employs a unique cruciform strake arrangement on the tailkit. The variant
displayed at Zhuhai 2008 is different in many respects from demonstrators previously
displayed, which appeared to use a modification of the LS-6 tailkit. The FT-4 employs a
planar wing kit similar to the Kerkanya/JDAM-ER.

Above, below: FT-3 for low drag bomb body at Zhuhai 2010 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

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 FT-3 guided bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

FT-4 guided bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

FT-4 guided bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

Luoyang/CASC FT-5 Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Bomb

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 FT-5 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

The FT-5 is the smallest guidance kit in the Luoyang/CASC FT series, intended for a 100 kg
bomb body. The strake kit design and tail kit are modelled on the FT-1 configuration. The
bomb casing geometry displayed in 2009 is relatively conventional and evidently not
intended for deep penetration of concrete in the manner of the GBU-39/B SDB warhead.

Early FT-5 guided bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

Early FT-5 guided bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

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 Early FT-5 guided bomb kit (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

Luoyang/CASC FT-6 Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Bomb

FT-6 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

The FT-6 displayed in 2010 at Zhuhai employed a slimline low drag bomb casing, with a set
of planar glide wings similar to those employed with the FT-2, FT-4 and LS-6. This weapon
would appear to the planar wing derivative of FT-3 variant with a low drag 250 kg / 500 lb
bomb body5.

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 FT-6 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

FT-6 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

Luoyang/CASC LS-6 Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Bomb Family

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Above, below: 500 kg Luoyang/CASC LS-6 at Zhuhai 2010 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

100 kg Luoyang/CASC LS-6 at Zhuhai 2010 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

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 50 kg Luoyang/CASC LS-6 at Zhuhai 2010 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

The LS-6 designation is applied to a family of guidance kits for a range of low drag bomb
bodies. Known variants of the tailkit are for 500 kg, 250 kg, 100 kg and 50 kg bombs. The
former variants are glidebombs, the latter variants strake equipped analogues to the US
GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB).

The 500 kg / 250 kg LS-6 glidebomb design is modelled in many respects on the concept of
the Australian developed planar wing Kerkanya glidebomb kit, more recently adapted to form
the JDAM-ER. Unlike the Kerkanya which uses a low wing monoplane configuration with a
blended adaptor fairing, the LS-6 glide wing kit is much simpler in design and the weapon
flight configuration is that of a high wing monoplane. Cited range for an 11 km release
altitude at 900 km/h is 60 km, considerably less than the Kerkanya/JDAM-ER design 4.

In 2010 Luoyang displayed 100 kg and 50 kg derivative designs, which are clearly intended
to be analogues to the US GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) which has developed to fit
the weapon bays of the F-22A Raptor3.

These weapons are clearly designed for compact internal carriage, and it is reasonable to
conclude that the intended launch platform is the J-20 stealth fighter.

Both the 100 kg and 50 kg derivatives are fitted with nose mounted electro-optical seekers,
with high quality planar windows. JDW 's Hewson reports this to be a semi-active homing
laser seeker, however, such a seeker is not compatible with a weapon intended to be
released in multiple round salvos 5.

The regime of operation is however compatible with a scene matching area correlator
seeker, such as that employed in the Russian GNPP KAB-500/1500Kr series, or trialled in
the US Navy DAMASK/HART effort. A seeker modelled on the DAMASK or KAB-500/1500Kr
would provide high accuracy, and a redundant guidance regime should the satellite
navigation channel be successful jammed 4.

The type of satellite navigation receiver and inertial unit employed in the LS-6 series have
not been disclosed to date. W hile the Luoyang website states the use of GPS, other sources
claim the use of Glonass. It is likely the receiver is like a number of Russian designs, a dual
mode device which can use C/A GPS or secure Glonass concurrently.

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Detail of 50 kg Luoyang/CASC LS-6 tailkit (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

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50 kg Luoyang/CASC LS-6 EO terminal seeker window (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

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Imaging seekers are one technique which provides satellite aided inertially guided bombs with genuine precision
capability. The US Navy DAMASK/HART effort is a good example. A typical design for such a seeker will see the
bomb seeker take a snapshot of the target surroundings, which is then compared with a preprogrammed image
to fix the bomb's position. Once the error is found, the target aimpoint is corrected and the bomb dives into the
target. MilliMetric Wave Imaging (MMWI) techniques were demonstrated in the Orca program, while DAMASK
demonstrated an uncooled low cost IIR seeker, based on automotive technology. Both techniques have growth
potential for attacks on moving targets such as vehicles or shipping (Author/USAF)4.

Luoyang Description for 500/250 kg Variants (Cite):

LS-6 guided glide bomb is a low -cost but highly effective air to surface w eapon for standoff
precise attack on fixed ground targets, such as airports, seaports, bridges, commander
centers, etc. With a w ing kit and GPS/I NS guidance unit, the conventional low -drag aerial
bombs are modified into precision guided bombs w ith standoff attack ability.

System features：

Launched outside mid/short range air defense firepow er

All-w eather, day & night attack capability
Low cost but highly effective
Fire and forget capability
Excellent anti-interference capability
Modular guidance and control unit
Single target or multiple targets attack capability

Weapon delivery:

T he LS-6 standoff guided glide bomb (SOGGB) utilizes high-altitude and high-speed
launching, high lift-drag ratio aerodynamic configuration and suitable control scheme to
ensure a remote gliding control. Before the bomb is dropped, its on-board I NS coordinate
system must be aligned w ith that of the aircraft and the fire control system dow nloads the
mission planning into the bomb. Within a specified period of time after the bomb being

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dropped, the stabilizing system of the bomb starts to w ork to ensure the bomb and the
aircraft being separated safely. And then, the folded-w ings expand, putting the bomb into
the autonomous flight course, and the on-board control system of the bomb starts to
operate to keep the bomb body stable. A combined GPS/I NS navigation is adopted during
this course. T he guidance system translates and calculates the guidance commands and
outputs to the autopilot to ensure the bomb flying in a planned trajectory. Based on the
relative position of the bomb to the target, the bomb w ill enter its terminal guidance at a
preset distance from the target. On the terminal course of the trajectory, attitude control
w ill be performed via a vertical lead-bias to improve the kill effect.

T echnical data ：

a) Kill Area ：
For normal target ：5,000 - 10,000 m 2
For armored targe ：100 - 500 m 2
b) Operational Altitude and Speed ：
Launch altitude ：4,000 - 11,000 m
Launch speed ：600 - 1,000 km/h
c) Maximum Launch Range ：No less than 60 kilometers w ith a launch altitude of 11,000
meters and an initial speed of 900 km/h.
d) Guidance Mode ：Combined GPS/I NS guidance.
e) Guidance Accuracy： ≤15 meters CEP

LS-6 prototype glidebomb under a J-8F Finback.

Above, below: 500 kg Luoyang/CASC LS-6 at Zhuhai 2010 (Zhenguan Studio, © 2010 Air Power Australia).

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The 500 kg variant of the LS-6 glidebomb (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

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The 250 kg variant of the LS-6 glidebomb (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

The 500 kg variant of the LS-6 glidebomb (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

The 500 kg variant of the LS-6 glidebomb (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

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The 500 kg variant of the LS-6 glidebomb (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

The 250 kg variant of the LS-6 glidebomb (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

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 The 250 kg variant of the LS-6 glidebomb (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

The 250 kg variant of the LS-6 glidebomb (© 2009, Zhenguan Studio).

The Australian HdH JDAM-ER was designed for very low mass production unit cost, which is reflected in a number
of design features. The most evident is the revival of the DSTO GTV untapered wing planform, which sacrifices a
little range performance but is significantly easier to manufacture. The baseline GBU-31/32/35/38 tailkit is used,
with software alterations to support the changed aerodynamics and wing deployment functions (HdH).

References

1. ‘Zhuhai hangzhan Zhongguo jizai zhidao zhadan’, Bingqi Zhishi (Ordnance Knowledge) 1A/2011 No. 308 ,pp. 32
& 33.

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 2. LT2 laser guided bomb, Luoyang Optoelectro Technology Development Center, URL:
http://www.loec.cn/e32.html
3. Kopp C., GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb I / GBU-40/42/B Small Diameter Bomb II, Technical Report APA-
TR-2007-0106, URI: http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-SDB.html.
4. Kopp C., JDAM Matures, Parts 1 and 2, Australian Aviation, December 2002, URI:
http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-JDAMPt1.html.
5. Hewson R., Briefing: Teeth of the dragon, China is setting its sights on expanding its air-to-air and air-to-
surface weapon inventory, Jane's Defence Weekly, 19 January 2011, URI:
http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdw/jdw110119_1_n.shtml.

Imagery Sources: Zhenguan Studio, Xinhua; PLA-AF; MilitaryPhotos.net; other Internet

sources.

T echnical Report APA-T R-2009-0808

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