GB500 (570 kg)
Contents
Description
The GB-500J, previously LS-500J, aka TG500 (天戈 TianGe 500; lit. Heavenly dagger-axe; where dagger-axe 戈 was a traditional Chinese melee weapon) in NORINCO's catalogue, is one of the guided aerial bombs in PLAAF/PLANAF and the first LGB developed by Asian countries in 1980s. The project for domestic LGB was started way back in 1980s and was tested by H-5 with ground guidance units controlled by PLAGF; the bomb was later used by the experimental Q-5E/F series and later by PLAAF domestic jets after 2000s guided by onboard targeting pods.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
General info
| Bomb characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Mass | 570 kg |
| Guidance | Laser |
| Explosive mass | 220 kg |
| Explosive type | TNT |
Effective damage
With 220 kg of TNT filled inside the bomb, the GB-500J can sometimes destroy multiple targets packed within a certain radius with overpressure, explosive and shrapnel damages.
Comparison with analogues
GBU-16 Paveway II - NATO 1000 lbs (~500 kg) class LGB with higher explosive content
KAB-500L - Warsaw-Pact/CIS 500 kg LGB with much higher explosive content
Usage in battles
Thanks to its relative low tier (at 9.7 on Q-5L), GB-500J enables Chinese tech tree players for safe approach against enemy targets; some future jets will also have access to the bomb with the help of centerline-mounted target pods. Although having lesser explosive content than its Western counterparts while being heavier (the heaviest along all 500 kg/1000 lbs class LGBs), the sheer size can still make sure grouped targets will face their end quickly if the bomb lands between them within a certain radius, let alone single target. Be sure to pick the target wisely - it's better leaving the bomb for targets in their stronghold or covers, or for those racing for friendly capture points; leave the SPAAs or IFVs for the 130/90 mm rocket pods instead.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- The earliest accessible LGB to players (as low as 9.7)
- Sufficient explosive content to take out multiple target at certain radius
Cons:
- Lesser explosive content than NATO/Warsaw-Pact equivalents
- The heaviest 500 kg-class LGB, requires well-planned drops (at high altitude/using CCRP)
History
After seeing the potential of guided bombs during Vietnam War and the demand for military modernization, PLAAF called for domestic guided bombs by late 1970s; there were earlier tests with domestic LGB with a testbed based on H-5 in 1983 and ground targeting tests were done by 1984, but the lack of dedicated airborne platform still hindered the progress of LGBs. By the time Q-5 has undergone modernizations by 1990s, a Q-5 was modified into the E variant with revised bomb pylon for LGB while another one as the F variant for carrying targeting pod; although the test was successful, it was Q-5L and Q-5N that eventually become the first PLAAF jet to carry domestic LGB.
By 2012, the LS-500J (TG500) was sold by NORINCO Harbin Jiancheng Machinery Group Co. Ltd (中国兵器工业集团 哈尔滨建成集团有限公司) under the name TianGe (天戈) alongside with its 250 kg and 1000 kg variants; thanks to its lesser weight and smaller size, most PLAAF jets, especially domestic multirole fighters in the 21st century can carry the bomb while maintaining flexibility to self-defense.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
- Chinese LGBs
Overseas equivalents
- GBU-16 Paveway II - NATO standard 1,000 lb LGB (1097 lbs, 497 kg) which also used by ROCAF's F-16
- KAB-500L - Warsaw-Pact/CIS equivalent at 500 kg class
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
