YL PGB
Yunlei, abbreviated as YL or prefixed with CS/BB, is a series of precision-guided munitions and special-purpose bombs developed by China South Industries Group.
Development
Background
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. The prototype guided bomb in the canceled project was designated Type 7712.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, and the targeting pod was tasked to the Luoyang Optoelectro Technology Development Center, and the production was tasked to the Factory 624. The final product was LS-500J laser-guided bomb, later renamed LT-2 laser-guided bomb for export. LS-500J was one of the most widely used guided bombs in China's arsenal.
Eventually, the original LS-500J branched out to the other series of guided bombs, which were manufactured by different defense factories and institutions:
- The LS and LT series guidance bomb kits, with the LS series focusing on satellite glide bomb, whereas the LT focus on laser guidance, produced by Luoyang Optoelectro Technology Development Center of Aviation Industry Corporation of China.
- The FT series of guided bombs, produced by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
- The TG, TD, and TL series of guided bombs, produced by various subsidiaries of China North Industries Group Corporation, such as Harbin Jiancheng Group.
- The YL and YJ series of guided bombs, produced by China South Industries Group and marketed via Norinco.
- The YZ series guided bombs, produced by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation.
YL and YJ series
In Zhuhai Airshow 2012, China South Industries Group revealed Yunlei / YL and Yunjian / YJ series of guided bombs. The Yunlei series was showcased again in 2016.Variants of the series include CS/BBF1 thermobaric guided bomb, CS/BBE2 blast fragmentation bomb, CS/BBE3 laser-guided bomb, CS/BBM1 laser-guided bomb, CS/BBM2 satellite-guided glide bomb, CS/BBM3 satellite-guided bomb, CS/BBC5 guided munition dispenser, CS/BBC7 guided cluster bomb.
The CS/BBC5 cargo bomb can carry sub-munitions or a unitary warhead. It's designed as a stand-off weapon and is fire-and-forget. The bomb weighs. The CS/BBC5 is similar to the TL500 (GB6) munition dispensers, and two weapons could be closely related, or the same weapons' respective domestic and export version. During a showcase by Chinese state-owned China Central Television in 2020, the CS/BBC5 was shown to have six tail strakes for increased aerodynamic control. In contrast, the older TL500 dispenser only has four tail edges. According to the manufacturer representative, CS/BBC6 can carry 240 submunitions in six variants, such as anti-armor submunition with penetration, area denial submunition mines with proximity/timed fuses, and carbon fiber submunitions.
Variants
Guided bomb variants produced by China South Industries Group include:;CS/BBF1 : thermobaric bomb.
;YL-5 : laser-guided bunker buster bomb with high-explosive penetrator warhead. Initially known as the YL-5, but was later renamed to YJ-1000-1. Launched from a JH-7A2 aircraft.
;CS/BBD3 : laser-guided bomb.
;CS/BBE2 : blast fragmentation bomb.
;CS/BBM3 : satellite / laser-guided bomb.
;CS/BBM1 : laser-guided bomb.
;CS/BBM2 : satellite-guided satellite-guided glide bomb. It's analogous to the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb.
;YL-16: blast fragmentation bomb.
;YL-18: aerial bomb.
;CS/BBC2 : blockade cluster bomb.
;CS/BBC5 : satellite-guided munition dispenser. Closely related to TL500 (GB6) airborne munitions dispenser. The Chinese equivalent of AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon.
;CS/BBC7 : cluster bomb.
;CS/BBE3 : laser-guided bomb.