November
30, 2006: China has developed a new targeting pod, called the DC-1. The pod
contains a daylight video camera and a thermal imager for night and bad
weather. The system includes a laser designator. In the late 1990s, the first
Chinese targeting pod, the "Blue Sky" appeared. These appeared to be based on
the U.S. LANTRIN. Before that, aircraft had to be equipped with internal
cameras and laser designators. The new LT-2 pod appears to be more robust and
reliable.
China
has also just introduced a new laser guided bomb; the LT-2. This weapon looks
very similar to the Russian KAB-500L 1100 pound laser guided bomb. So the LT-2
may be using licensed or stolen Russian technology. The KAB-500L is very
similar to the American Paveway series of laser guided bombs. That is, a dumb
bomb has a guidance kit attached. Fifteen years ago, China introduced a laser
guided bomb that appeared to be reverse engineered U.S. Paveway. These apparently
did not perform very well.
