What are LS-6 glide bombs? Know about the Chinese precision weapons used by Pakistan in Khyber airstrike

At least 30 people, including women and children, were killed when the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) dropped LS-6 bombs on Matre Dara village in the Tirah Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The attack occurred around 2 am in this Pashtun-majority village. Gruesome images of the aftermath have circulated widely on social media. Authorities said the strike targeted Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, but all reported victims were civilians. Rescue operations are ongoing, and the casualty toll may rise.

The bombs used in the attack, LS-6 glide bombs, are Chinese-built precision-guided munitions. Also called Thunder Stone Gliding Guided Bombs or LS GGB, they are part of the Thunder Stone family of weapons developed by Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

The LS-6 was first tested by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force on the Shenyang J-8B fighter in 2006 and publicly unveiled at the 6th Zhuhai Airshow later that year. It operates using an Inertial Navigation System (INS) combined with GPS or laser guidance and uses China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system.

How the LS-6 works

The LS-6 is essentially a guidance kit that converts conventional free-fall bombs, often called dumb bombs, into precision weapons capable of striking fixed targets. It can be fitted to bombs weighing 50, 100, 500, and 550 kilograms.

The bomb is equipped with foldable wings and cruciform tail surfaces made of composite materials and aluminium alloys. These features allow the weapon to glide, extend its range, and be guided during flight. The design enables aircraft to release the bomb from high altitudes and distances while maintaining precision, reducing the risk to the aircraft from enemy air defenses. Smaller variants can be carried in the internal weapons bays of modern fighters such as the Chengdu J-20.

Range and accuracy

The LS-6’s range depends on the release altitude and speed of the aircraft. It is reported to reach 40 kilometres when dropped from 8,000 metres and up to 60 kilometres from around 10,000 metres. On approach to the target, the bomb can reach speeds of Mach 1, or approximately 1,234 kmph. Accuracy varies across different variants. Some reports suggest a precision within 15 metres, while other versions with laser guidance or electro-optical / scene-matching seekers may achieve even higher terminal accuracy.

Additional versions under development reportedly include imaging infrared targeting systems derived from air-to-air missile seekers. All LS-6 variants are built to Chinese military standards, allowing them to be deployed on Western platforms as well.

The LS-6 provides a relatively low-cost method to convert dumb bombs into precision weapons. Its design reduces the risk to aircraft while providing flexibility in warhead options for different targets.