YL PGB#YL and YJ series

{{Infobox weapon

|is_missile=yes

|name=YL PGB

|image=

|caption=

|origin=China

|type=Precision-guided bomb

|used_by=China

|manufacturer=China South Industries Group

|unit_cost=

|propellant=

|production_date=2012—present

|service=2012—present

|engine=

|engine_power=

|weight=up to {{cvt|1000|kg|lb}}

|length=depends on model

|height=depends on model

|diameter=depends on model

|wingspan=depends on model

|speed=freefall

|vehicle_range=depends on the altitude released

|ceiling=

|altitude=

|filling=various gravity bombs

|guidance=inertial navigation, laser guidance, satellite guidance

|detonation=Impact / Proximity

|launch_platform=aerial platforms

}}

Yunlei ({{zh|c=云雷|p=yún léi|l=Cloud Thunder}}), abbreviated as YL or prefixed with CS/BB,{{cite journal|url=http://bgzdh.cnjournals.com/bgzdh/article/pdf/20210920?file_name=8101D5DAB1C0894882E0CE9BDA146A5F278C3BF2C45A81B7DB2C725F6A62879EA82E60AB8379F65F962081F59CC52301FECC7F2F36C2E4DA76C0DAC6AD7A866B&open_type=self |title=Development Trend of UAV-borne Precision Guided Bomb Technology |author=Yin Ximei, Kang Yanqing |date=September 2021 |journal=Ordnance Industry Automation |doi=10.7690/bgzdh.2021.09.020}} is a series of precision-guided munitions (PGM) 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.{{cite web|url=https://mil.sina.cn/sd/2018-08-20/detail-ihhxaafy9149115.d.html |title=我军为打激光制导炸弹曾研五款载机强5战机挑大梁 |website=Sina News |date=20 August 2018 }} The prototype guided bomb in the canceled project was designated Type 7712.{{cite web|url=https://mil.sina.cn/sd/2018-10-15/detail-ihmhafir7776630.d.html |title=国产第二代激光制导炸弹入役我军已超俄军同类产品 |website=Sina News |date=15 October 2018 |language=Chinese }}

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. LS-500J (LT-2) was one of the most widely used guided bombs in China's arsenal.{{cite web|url=https://www.coema.org.cn/article/200712/710.html |title=激光制导炸弹原理及发展 |website=China optics and optoelectronics |date=12 December 2007 }}

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 ({{zh|c=雷石|p=léi shí|l=Thunder Stone}}) and LT ({{zh|c=雷霆|p=léi tíng|l=Thunderclap}}) 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 (AVIC).{{cite web|url=https://www.163.com/dy/article/J4KTKU2S0552NQVI.html |title=我国"雷石系列滑翔制导炸弹"，让枭龙武器库威力更强大 |website=NetEast News |date=14 June 2024 |language=Chinese}}
The FT ({{zh|c=飞腾|p=Fēi téng|l=Soaring}}) series of guided bombs, produced by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The TG ({{zh|c=天戈|p=tiān gē|l=Lambda Boötis}}), TD ({{zh|c=天罡|p=tiān gāng|l=Big Dipper}}), and TL ({{zh|c=天雷|p=tiān léi|l=Sky Thunder}}) series of guided bombs, produced by various subsidiaries of China North Industries Group Corporation, such as Harbin Jiancheng Group.{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/mil/2012/11-14/4327308.shtml |title=中国布撒武器首次曝光最重激光制导炸弹亮相 |website=China News Service |date=14 November 2012 }}{{cite web|url=https://premium.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china//lt.htm |title=Tian-Ge Precision Guided Bomb |website=globalsecurity }}
The YL ({{zh|c=云雷|p=yún léi|l=Cloud Thunder}}) and YJ ({{zh|c=云箭|p=yún jían|l=Cloud Arrow}}) series of guided bombs, produced by China South Industries Group and marketed via Norinco.{{cite web|url=https://mil.sina.cn/sd/2017-05-08/detail-ifyeychk7134730.d.html |title=中国卫星制导武器山寨美？要从18年前一枚炸弹谈起 |website=Sina News |date=8 May 2017 |language=Chinese }}{{cite web|url=https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20211026A076YV00 |title=中国多型高效精确毁伤弹药曝光实弹发射画面公开 |website=Tencent News |date=26 October 2021 |language=Chinese }}
The YZ series guided bombs, produced by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com/mil/2012/11-14/4326734.shtml |title=精确制导炸弹在珠海航展井喷航空子母炸弹稀奇 |website=China News Service |date=14 November 2012 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/yl.htm |title=NORINCO Yunlei YL small-diameter guided bombs |website=globalsecurity }}

=YL and YJ series=

In Zhuhai Airshow 2012, China South Industries Group revealed Yunlei / YL ({{zh|c=云雷|p=yún léi|l=Cloud Thunder}}) and Yunjian / YJ ({{zh|c=云箭|p=yún jían|l=Cloud Arrow}}) series of guided bombs. The Yunlei series was showcased again in 2016.

Variants of the series include CS/BBF1 (YL-3) {{cvt|250|kg|lb}} thermobaric guided bomb,{{cite web |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/400936549_335714 |title=枭龙再添新利器，国产空气燃料炸弹威力巨大 |website=Sohu News |date=10 June 2020 }} CS/BBE2 (YL-10) {{cvt|50|kg|lb}} blast fragmentation bomb,{{cite web|url=https://www.sohu.com/a/206918876_767131 |title=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 |website=Sohu News |date=27 November 2017 }} CS/BBE3 (YL-15) {{cvt|25|kg|lb}} laser-guided bomb,{{cite web|url=https://kkne.ws/Gj4MB4 |title=国产无人机何以行销世界？配用弹药五花八门类别齐全 |website=KK News |date=3 November 2016 }} CS/BBM1 (YL-13) {{cvt|100|kg|lb}} laser-guided bomb, CS/BBM2 (YL-14) {{cvt|100|kg|lb}} satellite-guided glide bomb, CS/BBM3 (YL-12) {{cvt|50|kg}} satellite-guided bomb,{{cite web|url=https://news.sohu.com/20161102/n472070972.shtml |title=30多种国产无人机机载弹药亮相类型多世界第一 |website=Sohu News |date=2 November 2016 }} CS/BBC5 (YJ-6) {{cvt|500|kg|lb}} guided munition dispenser, CS/BBC7 (YJ-7) {{cvt|50|kg|lb}} guided cluster bomb.{{Cite web|url=http://military.people.com.cn/n/2014/1111/c1011-26006767.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240909075520/http://military.people.com.cn/n/2014/1111/c1011-26006767.html |url-status=live |title=火龙280型火箭弹惊艳亮相 |archive-date=9 September 2024}}

The CS/BBC5 cargo bomb (also known as the YJ-6 {{zh|s=云箭-6|l=Cloud Arrow-6}};{{cite web|url=https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20230928A077DZ00 |title=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 |website=Tencent News |date=6 October 2023 }} 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 {{cvt|500|kg|lb}}.{{Cite web|url=http://military.people.com.cn/BIG5/n/2012/1112/c350262-19549085.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101173710/http://military.people.com.cn/BIG5/n/2012/1112/c350262-19549085.html|url-status=dead|title=CS/BBC5|archive-date=January 1, 2013}}[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/micro-reading/dzh/2012-11-12/content_7484541.html CS/BBC5 missile] 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/yj-6.htm |title=YJ-6 CS/BBC5 Satellite-Guided Glider Cargo Aerial Bomb |website=globalsecurity |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240909212550/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/yj-6.htm#selection-667.458-667.464 |archive-date=9 September 2024 }}{{cite web|url=https://quwa.org/daily-news/china-marketing-diverse-range-of-air-to-surface-weaponry/ |title=China marketing diverse range of air-to-surface weaponry |website=QUWA |date=6 November 2016 |first=Bilal |last=Khan }} During a showcase by Chinese state-owned China Central Television (CCTV) in 2020, 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.twz.com/35778/new-chinese-air-launched-glide-weapon-designed-to-be-an-airfield-killer |title=New Chinese Air-Launched Glide Weapon Designed To Be An Airfield Killer |website=The War Zone |date=17 August 2020 |first=Jamie |last=Hunter }}{{cite web|url=https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20200816A0DBAU00? |title=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 |website=Tencent News |date=16 August 2020 }} According to the manufacturer representative, CS/BBC6 (YJ-6) can carry 240 submunitions in six variants, such as anti-armor submunition with {{cvt|200|mm|in}} penetration, area denial submunition mines with proximity/timed fuses, and carbon fiber submunitions.

Variants

Guided bomb variants produced by China South Industries Group include:{{cite web|url=https://read01.com/zh-cn/NymPmDQ.html |title=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 |date=19 November 2018 }}

;CS/BBF1 (YL-3): {{cvt|250|kg|lb}} thermobaric bomb.

;YL-5 (YJ-1000-1): laser-guided {{cvt|1000|kg|lb}} bunker buster bomb with high-explosive penetrator warhead.{{cite web|url=https://mil.sina.cn/sd/2019-01-25/detail-ihrfqzka0830829.d.html |title=歼轰7A挂重型激光制导炸弹曝光战斗部重达1吨(图) |website=Sina News |date=25 January 2019 }} Initially known as the YL-5, but was later renamed to YJ-1000-1. Launched from a JH-7A2 aircraft.{{cite web|url=https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/2022/11/10/china-shows-off-air-launched-hypersonic-missile-at-airshow-near-taiwan/ |title=China displays air-launched hypersonic missile at air show near Taiwan |website=C4ISRNET |date=10 November 2022 |first=Mike |last=Yeo }}

;CS/BBD3 (YL-8): laser-guided {{cvt|250|kg|lb}} bomb.

;CS/BBE2 (YL-10): {{cvt|50|kg|lb}} blast fragmentation bomb.

;CS/BBM3 (YL-12): satellite / laser-guided {{cvt|50|kg|lb}} bomb.

;CS/BBM1 (YL-13): laser-guided {{cvt|100|kg|lb}} bomb.

;CS/BBM2 (YL-14): satellite-guided {{cvt|100|kg|lb}} satellite-guided glide bomb. It's analogous to the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB).

;YL-16: {{cvt|100|kg|lb}} blast fragmentation bomb.

;YL-18: aerial bomb.

;CS/BBC2 (YJ-1C): {{cvt|250|kg|lb}} blockade cluster bomb.

;CS/BBC5 (YJ-6): satellite-guided {{cvt|500|kg|lb}} munition dispenser. Closely related to TL500 (GB6) airborne munitions dispenser. The Chinese equivalent of AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon.

;CS/BBC7 (YJ-7): {{cvt|50|kg|lb}} cluster bomb.

;CS/BBE3 (YJ-15A): laser-guided {{cvt|25|kg|lb}} bomb.