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YL PGB

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YL PGB
TypePrecision-guided bomb
Place of originChina
Service history
In service2012—present
Used byChina
Production history
ManufacturerChina South Industries Group
Produced2012—present
Specifications
Massup to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)
Lengthdepends on model
Heightdepends on model
Diameterdepends on model
Wingspandepends on model
Warheadvarious gravity bombs
Detonation
mechanism
Impact / Proximity
Operational
range
depends on the altitude released
Maximum speed freefall
Guidance
system
inertial navigation, laser guidance, satellite guidance
Launch
platform
aerial platforms

Yunlei (Chinese: 云雷; pinyin: yún léi; lit. 'Cloud Thunder'), abbreviated as YL or prefixed with CS/BB,[1] is a series of precision-guided munitions (PGM) and special-purpose bombs developed by China South Industries Group.

Development

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Background

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The Chinese development of the precision-guided bomb began in the 1970s after the Chinese military observed the American usage of Paveway in the Vietnam War. Factory 624, later known as the Harbin Jiancheng Group, a subsidiary of Norinco, began the development process in 1974, with prototypes completed in 1980. Between 1984 and 1985, the guided bomb was tested via ground laser designation, while in 1986, the bomb was tested with an aerial laser targeting pod prototype. Prototypes were tested on the H-5 bomber. The project was canceled in the late 1980s due to budgetary issues.[2] The prototype guided bomb in the canceled project was designated Type 7712.[3]

A new laser-guided bomb project was initiated in 1992 after Chinese observation of the Gulf War. This project received more budgetary, human, and political resources. The bomb system was tasked to the Luoyang-based China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA, 612th Research Institute), and the targeting pod was tasked to the Luoyang Optoelectro Technology Development Center (LOTDC, 613th Research Institute), and the production was tasked to the Factory 624 (Harbin Jiancheng Group). The final product was LS-500J laser-guided bomb, later renamed LT-2 laser-guided bomb for export.[2] LS-500J (LT-2) was one of the most widely used guided bombs in China's arsenal.[2][4]

Eventually, the original LS-500J branched out to the other series of guided bombs,[2] which were manufactured by different defense factories and institutions:[1]

YL and YJ series

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In Zhuhai Airshow 2012, China South Industries Group revealed Yunlei / YL (Chinese: 云雷; pinyin: yún léi; lit. 'Cloud Thunder') and Yunjian / YJ (Chinese: 云箭; pinyin: yún jían; lit. 'Cloud Arrow') series of guided bombs. The Yunlei series was showcased again in 2016.[11]

Variants of the series include CS/BBF1 (YL-3) 250 kg (550 lb) thermobaric guided bomb,[12] CS/BBE2 (YL-10) 50 kg (110 lb) blast fragmentation bomb,[13] CS/BBE3 (YL-15) 25 kg (55 lb) laser-guided bomb,[14] CS/BBM1 (YL-13) 100 kg (220 lb) laser-guided bomb, CS/BBM2 (YL-14) 100 kg (220 lb) satellite-guided glide bomb, CS/BBM3 (YL-12) 50 kg (110 lb) satellite-guided bomb,[15] CS/BBC5 (YJ-6) 500 kg (1,100 lb) guided munition dispenser, CS/BBC7 (YJ-7) 50 kg (110 lb) guided cluster bomb.[16]

The CS/BBC5 cargo bomb (also known as the YJ-6 Chinese: 云箭-6; lit. 'Cloud Arrow-6';[17] not to be confused with the YJ-6 anti-ship missile) can carry sub-munitions or a unitary warhead. It's designed as a stand-off weapon and is fire-and-forget. The bomb weighs 500 kg (1,100 lb).[18][19] The CS/BBC5 (YJ-6) is similar to the TL500 (GB6) munition dispensers, and two weapons could be closely related, or the same weapons' respective domestic and export version.[20][21] During a showcase by Chinese state-owned China Central Television (CCTV) in 2020,[20] the CS/BBC5 (YJ-6) was shown to have six tail strakes for increased aerodynamic control. In contrast, the older TL500 (GB6) dispenser only has four tail edges.[22][23] According to the manufacturer representative, CS/BBC6 (YJ-6) can carry 240 submunitions in six variants, such as anti-armor submunition with 200 mm (7.9 in) penetration, area denial submunition mines with proximity/timed fuses, and carbon fiber submunitions.[23]

Variants

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Guided bomb variants produced by China South Industries Group include:[16][24]

CS/BBF1 (YL-3)
250 kg (550 lb) thermobaric bomb.
YL-5 (YJ-1000-1)
laser-guided 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) bunker buster bomb with high-explosive penetrator warhead.[25] Initially known as the YL-5, but was later renamed to YJ-1000-1. Launched from a JH-7A2 aircraft.[26]
CS/BBD3 (YL-8)
laser-guided 250 kg (550 lb) bomb.
CS/BBE2 (YL-10)
50 kg (110 lb) blast fragmentation bomb.
CS/BBM3 (YL-12)
satellite / laser-guided 50 kg (110 lb) bomb.
CS/BBM1 (YL-13)
laser-guided 100 kg (220 lb) bomb.
CS/BBM2 (YL-14)
satellite-guided 100 kg (220 lb) satellite-guided glide bomb. It's analogous to the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB).[21]
YL-16
100 kg (220 lb) blast fragmentation bomb.
YL-18
aerial bomb.
CS/BBC2 (YJ-1C)
250 kg (550 lb) blockade cluster bomb.
CS/BBC5 (YJ-6)
satellite-guided 500 kg (1,100 lb) munition dispenser. Closely related to TL500 (GB6) airborne munitions dispenser. The Chinese equivalent of AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon.[23]
CS/BBC7 (YJ-7)
50 kg (110 lb) cluster bomb.
CS/BBE3 (YJ-15A)
laser-guided 25 kg (55 lb) bomb.

Operators

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Yin Ximei, Kang Yanqing (September 2021). "Development Trend of UAV-borne Precision Guided Bomb Technology". Ordnance Industry Automation. doi:10.7690/bgzdh.2021.09.020.
  2. ^ a b c d "我军为打激光制导炸弹曾研五款载机 强5战机挑大梁". Sina News. 20 August 2018.
  3. ^ "国产第二代激光制导炸弹入役我军 已超俄军同类产品". Sina News (in Chinese). 15 October 2018.
  4. ^ "激光制导炸弹原理及发展". China optics and optoelectronics. 12 December 2007.
  5. ^ a b c "我国"雷石系列滑翔制导炸弹"，让枭龙武器库威力更强大". NetEast News (in Chinese). 14 June 2024.
  6. ^ "中国布撒武器首次曝光 最重激光制导炸弹亮相". China News Service. 14 November 2012.
  7. ^ "Tian-Ge Precision Guided Bomb". globalsecurity.
  8. ^ "中国卫星制导武器山寨美？要从18年前一枚炸弹谈起". Sina News (in Chinese). 8 May 2017.
  9. ^ "中国多型高效精确毁伤弹药曝光 实弹发射画面公开". Tencent News (in Chinese). 26 October 2021.
  10. ^ "精确制导炸弹在珠海航展井喷 航空子母炸弹稀奇". China News Service. 14 November 2012.
  11. ^ a b "NORINCO Yunlei YL small-diameter guided bombs". globalsecurity.
  12. ^ "枭龙再添新利器，国产空气燃料炸弹威力巨大". Sohu News. 10 June 2020.
  13. ^ "彩虹无人机亮相卫星制导炸弹，当年美军用它激怒了全中国". Sohu News. 27 November 2017.
  14. ^ "国产无人机何以行销世界？配用弹药五花八门类别齐全". KK News. 3 November 2016.
  15. ^ "30多种国产无人机机载弹药亮相 类型多世界第一". Sohu News. 2 November 2016.
  16. ^ a b "火龙280型火箭弹惊艳亮相". Archived from the original on 9 September 2024.
  17. ^ "中国集束炸弹有多厉害，打击范围覆盖方圆千米，可击毁坦克与航母". Tencent News. 6 October 2023.
  18. ^ "CS/BBC5". Archived from the original on January 1, 2013.
  19. ^ CS/BBC5 missile
  20. ^ a b "YJ-6 CS/BBC5 Satellite-Guided Glider Cargo Aerial Bomb". globalsecurity. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024.
  21. ^ a b Khan, Bilal (6 November 2016). "China marketing diverse range of air-to-surface weaponry". QUWA.
  22. ^ Hunter, Jamie (17 August 2020). "New Chinese Air-Launched Glide Weapon Designed To Be An Airfield Killer". The War Zone.
  23. ^ a b c "歼20的隐形搭档：重型制导弹药生产线公开，数百子母弹天女散花". Tencent News. 16 August 2020.
  24. ^ "中国兵器工业集团展出多种武器弹药 精确制导弹药成重点发展对象". 19 November 2018.
  25. ^ "歼轰7A挂重型激光制导炸弹曝光 战斗部重达1吨(图)". Sina News. 25 January 2019.
  26. ^ Yeo, Mike (10 November 2022). "China displays air-launched hypersonic missile at air show near Taiwan". C4ISRNET.
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