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China YJ 1000 precision guided bomb is emerging as one of the heaviest air delivered strike weapons entering service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force and Naval Aviation forces. Designed as a long range glide munition with a large penetrator warhead, the YJ 1000 reflects Beijing’s continued push to expand stand off strike options against hardened ground targets and high value naval assets.

The YJ 1000 bomb, reportedly developed by major Chinese defense groups under AVIC and CASIC, is believed to have entered limited service around 2024 to 2025. While Chinese authorities have not released a full official data package, public displays, industry briefings, and military reporting suggest the weapon fills a gap between smaller satellite guided bombs and cruise missiles.

With a claimed stand off range of up to 80 kilometers, the YJ 1000 allows Chinese combat aircraft to strike defended targets without entering the most dangerous layers of enemy air defenses. This capability aligns closely with China’s broader airpower modernization goals and its focus on anti access and area denial strategies.

What Is the YJ 1000 Bomb

Heavy Precision Guided Glide Munition

The YJ 1000 is assessed to be a 1,000 kilogram class precision guided bomb fitted with a glide kit rather than a powered engine. After release from altitude, deployable wings extend to provide lift and allow the bomb to travel significant distances toward its target.

Unlike cruise missiles, the YJ 1000 relies on gravity and aerodynamic glide rather than propulsion. This keeps costs lower while still offering extended reach compared to traditional free fall bombs.

Chinese military analysts describe the YJ 1000 as a penetrator munition optimized for hardened or semi hardened targets. Its large mass and reinforced casing are designed to punch through concrete, soil, or ship decks before detonation.

Guidance and Accuracy

Beidou and Inertial Navigation

The YJ 1000 uses a combination of China’s Beidou satellite navigation system and inertial navigation for midcourse guidance. This approach mirrors Western GPS guided bomb designs and supports fire and forget employment.

There is no terminal seeker reported on the weapon. Instead, it relies on pre programmed coordinates and satellite updates to maintain accuracy. Chinese sources claim a circular error probability of less than three meters under ideal conditions.

The lack of an imaging or radar seeker suggests the YJ 1000 is intended primarily for fixed or well located targets such as bunkers, command centers, airfield infrastructure, and large surface vessels.

Performance and Range

Stand Off Strike Capability

Chinese military publications estimate the YJ 1000 has a stand off range between 50 and 80 kilometers when released from high altitude. Actual range depends heavily on release speed, altitude, and flight profile of the launch aircraft.

Because it is a glide bomb, there is no fixed ceiling or altitude limit. Fighters and strike aircraft operating at higher altitudes can maximize glide distance while staying outside many short and medium range air defense systems.

The weapon travels at subsonic speed and follows a predictable glide path. This makes it less survivable than a cruise missile against advanced integrated air defenses, but far more capable than older gravity bombs.

Warhead and Lethality

Large Penetrator Payload

One of the most notable aspects of the YJ 1000 is its warhead size. Open source estimates suggest an 800 kilogram high explosive penetrator payload, making it one of the heaviest air launched guided bombs in China’s inventory.

The warhead is designed to detonate on impact or after a short delay, allowing it to penetrate reinforced structures before exploding. This makes it suitable for destroying underground bunkers, hardened aircraft shelters, ammunition depots, and port facilities.

Against naval targets, the YJ 1000 could be used to strike large surface combatants or support ships in port or at sea, particularly when combined with massed attacks.

Aircraft Compatibility

Integration With Frontline Chinese Fighters

The YJ 1000 is reported to be compatible with several frontline Chinese combat aircraft, including the J 10C multirole fighter, J 15 carrier based fighter, J 16 strike fighter, and the older JH 7 fighter bomber.

These platforms provide the payload capacity and avionics needed to carry and release a weapon of this size. The J 16, in particular, is seen as a key launch platform due to its range, payload, and strike focused mission profile.

Integration across both PLAAF and PLANAF aircraft suggests the YJ 1000 is intended for joint operations, supporting both land attack and maritime strike missions.

Role in Chinese Airpower Strategy

Filling the Gap Between Bombs and Missiles

The YJ 1000 sits between smaller precision guided bombs and long range cruise missiles in China’s strike arsenal. It offers greater reach and lethality than 250 or 500 kilogram satellite guided bombs, but at lower cost and complexity than powered missiles.

This balance is important for sustained operations. In a high intensity conflict, glide bombs like the YJ 1000 could be used in large numbers to overwhelm defenses and conserve more expensive missile inventories.

The weapon also reflects a shift toward stand off employment. Chinese aircraft can launch from outside the range of many point defense systems, reducing risk to pilots and platforms.

Comparison With Western Systems

Similarities to JDAM ER and SPICE

In concept, the YJ 1000 is comparable to Western extended range guided bombs such as the JDAM ER or the Israeli SPICE family. However, its size places it closer to the heaviest bunker buster class weapons rather than standard general purpose bombs.

While the United States relies heavily on powered cruise missiles and stealth aircraft for deep strike, China appears to be building a layered approach. Glide bombs like the YJ 1000 complement ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and long range aviation.

The absence of a terminal seeker may limit flexibility against mobile targets, an area where some Western weapons offer more options.

Operational Status and Combat Use

No Confirmed Combat Employment

As of 2025, there is no confirmed combat use of the YJ 1000. The weapon has not been reported in real world strike operations, and its performance remains unproven outside of testing and exercises.

However, its reported entry into active service suggests production has begun and operational units are training with the system. Chinese military exercises increasingly emphasize long range precision strike, providing a likely testing ground for the weapon.

Industrial and Program Background

Chinese Defense Industry Role

Development of the YJ 1000 is attributed to major Chinese aerospace and missile organizations under AVIC and CASIC. These firms have been central to China’s rapid expansion of precision guided munitions over the past decade.

China has invested heavily in satellite navigation, guidance electronics, and mass production capabilities. The YJ 1000 benefits from these investments, particularly the widespread adoption of Beidou across Chinese weapons systems.

Analysis and Strategic Context

Strengthening Stand Off Strike Depth

The introduction of the YJ 1000 underscores China’s focus on creating depth in its air delivered strike options. Rather than relying on a single class of weapon, the PLAAF and PLANAF are fielding a mix of bombs, glide weapons, and missiles to suit different targets and threat environments.

This approach complicates enemy defense planning. Air defenses must account for both slow glide weapons and faster missiles, increasing the burden on interceptors and sensors.

Implications for Regional Air Defense

For regional militaries, the YJ 1000 highlights the need to strengthen layered air defenses around critical infrastructure. Hardened shelters, command facilities, and ports could face increased risk from heavy glide bombs launched from outside traditional engagement zones.

While not as difficult to intercept as stealthy cruise missiles, large glide bombs still pose a serious challenge when used in numbers or combined with electronic warfare and decoys.

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