Home   What's New   Gallery   Fighters   Fighters   Attack   Surveillance   Trainers
Transport   Helicopters   Helicopters   Destroyers   Submarines   Missiles   UAVs
LS-500J (courtesy of J, JFZ, JY, FM)
Ground crews were loading an LS-500J (K/YJG500) LGB underneath a PLAAF JH-7A fighter bomber. The LGB appears similar to Russian KAB-500L and its export version is called LT-2. It is the first such type of smart weapon to enter the service with PLAAF, even though Chinese have been testing LGBs (including LS-500J) using Q-5L attack aircraft for some years. LS-500J's weight is 564kg, length 3530mm, diameter 377mm, range>10km, CEP£6.5m, warhead 450kg. Its development was completed in 2003. The LGB is guided by two parallel laser beams and flies an S-shaped trajectory as it approaches the target. However this mechanism has a relatively low accuracy and is susceptible to jamming and poor weather conditions. The laser designator pod carried by JH-7A is thought to be the product of 613 Institute. The latest image indicated that LS-500J can also be carried by J-10. Overall LS-500J is comparable to American GBU-16 Paveway II LGB.
- Last Updated 6/11/10
A244S (courtesy of 999 & WM)
Aquired in the mid-80s from Italy, A244S is the first generation of modern anti-submarine torpedo to have entered the service with PLAN. The torpedo has an active/passive homing to 13km at the speed of 30kt and carries a 34kg warhead. So far A244S has been seen carried by Z-8 and Z-9C helicopters (one under the port side of the fuselage) and become the primary ASW weapon of PLAN helicopter force. A244S has been reverse-engineered and produced locally as ET52.
- Last Updated 7/31/07
KAB-1500KR (courtesy of FK, QFYK)
The most powerful type of PGM currently in service with PLAAF is the KAB-1500KR TV-guided bomb. As a heavy 1,500kg-class bomb with a 1,170kg warhead, KAB-1500KR can be used as "bunker busters" against fixed, "hard" targets such as hardened aircraft shelters and underground command centers. Its TV seeker locks the target before launch, therefore is drop-and-forget. However the bomb can only be dropped in a clear daylight condition, which limits its usage. The accuracy is about 4-7m. Up to 3 KA-1500KRs can be carried by Su-30MKK at a time. Interestingly, no laser-guided weapons have been found in Su-30MKK's weapon package.
- Last Updated 2/10/10
KAB-500KR (courtesy of FM)
KAB-500KR TV-guided bomb is a smaller sibling of the heavy KAB-1500KR. It weighs 560kg and is armed with a 380kg armor piercing warhead. It can lock a static target from 15 to 17km distance in the visibility of 10km and is drop-and-forget. A training round without the warhead was also acquired. Like KAB-1500KR, KAB-500KR can also be used as "bunker busters" against fixed, "hard" targets. The accuracy is about 4m. Up to 6 KA-500KRs can be carried by Su-30MKK at a time. The latest evidence indicated that the bomb can also be carried by the indigenous Q-5L attack aircraft (up to 2 at a time).
- Last Updated 7/1/10
Kh-59ME (courtesy of FM, BFZS)
A rare photo of a Kh-59ME/AS-18 TV-guided stand-off ASM carried by a PLAAF Su-30MKK is shown here. The missile is a training round with forward stabilizing fins and engine removed. Powered by a small turbojet engine underneath its body, Kh-59ME is comparable to American AGM-84 SLAM and has a range of 115km. It weighs 920kg and carries a 320kg HE warhead. An APK-9E guidance pod is carried underneath the aircraft engine intake which transmits the TV and command signals. After launch, the missile can be guided either by its INS first (launching distance 40km) and then by the weapon control office during the final stage (~10km), or by the weapon control officer during its whole flight (launching distance 115km) who periodically checks the terrain and corrects the missile's flight path. Like other TV-guided PGMs, the biggest drawback of Kh-59ME is that it cannot be used at night or in bad weather conditions. An Su-30MKK normally can carry two Kh-59ME ASMs.
- Last Updated 1/2/10
KD-63 (courtesy of NB, FM, SB)
KD-63 (K/AKD63, initially known as YJ-63) is the first generation of Chinese stand-off LACM. The missile is believed to be based on HY-4/XW-41 AshMs and powered by an FW-41B turbojet engine. Its range is about 180km. It features INS/GPS midcourse and terminal man-in-the-loop TV guidiance. A CCD camera is installed at the tip of the head section with the communication antenna on the top. The missile also features 4 tailfins in an "X" arrangement and a belly air intake. KD-63 is carried by H-6H missile carriers which are in service with PLAAF. Each H-6H carries 2 missiles under the wings.
- Last Updated 10/19/09
LS-6 (courtesy of FK, JFZ)
This new precision-guided glide bomb called LS-6 was first revealed in October 2006. The bomb is 500kg and is guided by INS/GPS/GLONASS. It feartures a foldable wing module attached to the top of the unguided GP bomb section, and a guidance module with 4 movable fins attached to the end. The same kit can also be attached to the smaller 250kg bomb. This design clearly resembles that of American Longshot guidance and range-extension kit, which turns a low-cost dumb bomb into a smart standoff weapon against fixed targets. Its warhead weighs 440kg, length is 3m, diameter 377mm, wingspan 2,740mm, range 60km (dropped from 10,000m at 1 Mach) and CEP£15m. However, since GPS is controlled by the Unite States, this model may be aimed at the export market only. LS-6 has been tested onboard an CFTE J-8F.
- Last Updated 1/2/10
FT-1 (courtesy of S)
Another low-cost precision-guided bomb unveiled at the 2006 Zhuhai Airshow is FT-1, which appears in the 500kg class and utilizes the INS (plus GPS?) guidance. FT-1 is only effective against fixed targests. It consists of a unguided GP bomb section and a tail guidance module with four control fins. There are four stablizing strakes attached to its body, which resemble American GBU-31 JDAM. Its range is 7-18km, drop altitude 5-12km, drop speed 0.6-0.9 Mach, CEP£30m. FT-1 has been tested onboard an CFTE JH-7. A 250kg version called FT-3 was also developed.
- Last Updated 11/9/06
KD-88 (courtesy of DFXS, 007, LDH, FK)
KD-88 (K/AKD88) is a new generation of ASM family just entering PLAAF service. It was developed by Hongdu Aviation Industrial Group and is currently equipping JH-7A attack aircraft. The KD-88 family has been identified with at least two variants: one with an IIR or CCD TV seeker (KD-88GX) and the other with an anti-radiation seeker. The missile's configuration and size appears similar to those of YJ-83K AShM. Its propulsion system is also thought to be a turbojet just like YJ-83K, and its range could reach 100+km. 4 small datalink antennas can been seen extending from the tips of mid-body stabilzing fins for man-in-the-loop terminal corrections. A guidance pod is needed to launch stand-off attacks. Up to 4 missiles can be carried by JH-7A at a time. Additional types of seeker including semi-active laser and MMW may be developed in the future. KD-88 has provided a much-needed enhancement to PLAAF's ground attack capability.
- Last Updated 11/19/08
KD-10 (courtesy of WLTK)
KD-10 (K/AKD10 or HJ-10) is a new generation of ATGM being developed for the Z-10 attack helicopter. A total of 8 can be carried at a time. The missile appears in the same class of American AGM-114 Hellfire but without the forward control fins. It also features a semi-active laser seeker believed to have been derived from the one used by Russian Krasnopol 152mm laser-guided projectile (CEP<=3m). KD-10 has passed ground launch test and is undergoing air launch test onboard Z-10 prototypes. This ATGM can also be fitted on Z-9WA attack helicopter as well. Its export version is dubbed BA-7.
- Last Updated 6/21/10
LT-3 (courtesy of HC, XZ)
First unveiled at the 2008 Zhuhai Airshow, LT-3 is the 2nd generation LGB following the earlier LS-500J/LT-2 (see above). LT-3 features a new wide-field seeker which is more sensitive than the narrow-field seeker of LT-2. As the result the LGB flies a more straight trajectory with a better accuracy and being less susceptible to jamming. It is also designed as a strap-on guidance kit attached to a standard general purpose bomb. This configuration costs less than that of LT-2 where the seek and the bomb are closely integrated together. LT-3 is thought to be in the same class of American GBU-24 Paveway III LGB.
- Last Updated 8/12/09
CJ-10K (courtesy of ZYZXLB)
The first image of the long-anticipated CJ-10K ALCM is shown here carried by the H-6M missile carrier. CJ-10K is the first generation of modern long range ALCM in the same class of Amercian AGM-86 and Russian Kh-55, designed to attack a variety of fixed, high-value targets. Its configuration features a cylindrical body with two retractable wings, four non-retractable tailfins as well as a retractable engine inlet, but lack of any significant stealth features. Based on CJ-10 land-based cruise missile which in turn adopted some Kh-55 technology, CJ-10K ALCM entered the service with PLAAF in the late 2000s, along with the dedicated H-6M missile carrier converted from earlier H-6Fs. Powered by a high-efficient turbofan engine, CJ-10 can achieve a range between 1,500 and 2,500km, depending on the payload it carries. As a strategic weapon, it is capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warhead. CJ-10K utlizes both INS and TERCOM (coupled with GPS?) as the cruising guidance and DSMAC as the terminal guidance, which gives the missile a pinpoint accuracy. The missile is expected to be carried by the new H-6K missile carrier which is still under development.
- Last Updated 12/12/09
jetfight2000@yahoo.com