LS-6 Thunder Stone

Development of precision-guided munitions began in 1974 following observations of aerial operations during the Vietnam War. Initial prototypes, designated Type 7712, underwent testing on bombers between 1984 and 1986 using ground and aerial laser designation. Although the project was suspended in the late 1980s, a subsequent program was initiated in 1992 after the Gulf War. This effort resulted in the LS-500J laser-guided bomb. The LS-6 series was first revealed in 2006.

The LS-6 is a strap-on guidance kit designed to convert unguided gravity bombs into precision-guided standoff munitions. The system consists of a guidance module and a gliding module. The guidance module, typically mounted in the tail cone, utilizes inertial and satellite navigation. Certain variants incorporate nose-mounted seekers, including electro-optical sensors with scene-matching area correlation or laser-homing capabilities. The gliding module features folding wings and cruciform tail control surfaces constructed from composite materials. For extended range, the assembly can be equipped with an aft-mounted miniaturized turbojet engine. The system employs the GJV289A data bus standard, which facilitates integration with Western-origin aircraft platforms. Miniaturized iterations of the kit utilize compact control surfaces suitable for internal carriage within the weapons bays of stealth aircraft.

The LS-6 is operated by the People's Liberation Army Air Force and Navy Air Force. The LS-500J variant is widely deployed within the Chinese arsenal. Export operators include Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Serbia. In March 2026, the system was identified integrated onto Serbian MiG-29 aircraft.