K/YBS500 is a Chinese air-to-surface missile / precision guided weapon / glide bomb / cluster bomb / rocket / munition dispenser system, and it is developed by the 624th Factory of China North Industries Group Corporation. This weapon system was first publicized following its approval on March 30, 2006 by Sun Qin (孙勤), Deputy Director of the National Defense Committee.[1][2] The complete system weigh 960 kg,[3] and several versions have been developed since its public debut, mainly in five categories, with different version within each category:

The most basic version cluster bomb, which is dropped over the target by aircraft. The bomb can be either guided, or unguided, and when guided, it can be achieved either via sub-munition or the guidance system on the bomb itself (in this case the sub-munitions are unguided).

To better protect the aircraft by increasing the standoff distance, a glide bomb category of K/YBS500 was also developed. A computer simulation training of this version of the weapon has been publicized in several Chinese websites.[4] The gliding module including the folding wings and control surfaces is made of composite material and aluminum alloys, similar to that of LS PGB.

The third category of K/YBS500 is an aerial weapon dispenser used like the British JP233, German MW-1 and Russian KMGU.[5] A variety of sub-munitions can be carried and deployed, which can be either guided or unguided. The munition dispenser itself can be discarded to reduce the weight of the aircraft after delivering the payload, thus allowing the aircraft to have greater chance of escaping enemy air defense.

The fourth category of K/YBS500 is an air-to-surface rocket version, derived from the gliding bomb version, with reduction of weapon payload in exchange of rocket motor engines. The guidance of this weapon system is depend on sub-munitions, so if sub-munitions are not guided, neither is the rocket.

The fifth category of K/YBS500 is an air-to-surface missile, where the guidance is on the missile itself, and although sub-munitions can be carried, the missile is usually armed with a single warhead instead.

K/YBS500 has been in Chinese service and it can be deployed in most aircraft currently in Chinese inventory, such as fixed winged aircraft and some of helicopters.

References