17 August 2020

China reveals details about 500 kg gliding sub-munitions dispenser

by Gabriel Dominguez

Chinese state-owned media have revealed details about a 500 kg unpowered, gliding sub-munitions dispenser developed for use by People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft.

CCTV 7 provided details about a 500 kg gliding sub-munitions dispenser for use by PLA aircraft. (CCTV 7 via Weibo)

In a 15 August news report the China Central Television 7 (CCTV 7) channel stated that the guided stand-off weapon, which is very similar in appearance to the Y6-J (also known as CS/BBC5) Guided Glider Aerial Bomb displayed at the Airshow China 2018 defence exhibition in Zhuhai, has a gliding range of about 60 km and has been designed as a fire-and-forget weapon that is capable of delivering at least six different types of sub-munitions to strike a variety of targets.

CCTV 7 reported that the aerodynamically shaped dispenser, which resembles the US-made AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), can carry up to 240 sub-munitions. Just like the AGM-154, the Chinese weapon has two folding wings on its upper surface and its tail section features six fixed, sweptback rectangular fins.

CCTV 7 also released footage showing the glide bomb being dropped from what appeared to be a PLA Air Force (PLAAF) JH-7 fighter-bomber during trials, although it was not revealed when these took place. The platform had previously been seen conducting flight tests with the weapon.

Chinese state-owned media have revealed details about a 500 kg unpowered, gliding sub-munitions disp...

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