As reported by China Defense Blog on January 19, 2025, the Chinese Tiangang 500kg Gliding Extended-Range GPS-Guided Bomb provides a practical solution to enhance precision-strike capabilities by leveraging its extensive inventory of bombs, reducing the need for entirely new munitions. Proposed by the state-owned company Norinco, this bomb, closely resembling the US-made AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), offers a longer range than the JDAM and achieves a circular error probability (CEP) of less than 15 meters, showcasing advanced capabilities for extended-range munitions. It builds upon China’s glide bomb development efforts, which began with the LS-6 series in 2006.
The Tiangang guided bomb, which weighs approximately 590kg, is capable of targeting various fixed installations, including communication hubs, military bases, missile sites, bridges, power stations, and storage facilities.
The Tiangang bomb features a diameter of 377mm and weighs approximately 590kg (±15kg). Equipped with a GPS-based guidance system, it is capable of targeting various fixed installations, including communication hubs, military bases, missile sites, bridges, power stations, and storage facilities. Tests have demonstrated that it generates overpressure exceeding 25 kPa within a 45-meter radius and achieves a static destruction area of 47 square meters. Its extended range allows deployment platforms to remain beyond the reach of many air defense systems, improving survivability during missions.