The FT-6A (Fei Teng, meaning “Soar” or “SkyRocket”) is a Chinese precision-guided glide bomb kit. It is characterized by its large 250 kg (550 lb) warhead and its emphasis on extended glide range. It is designed to convert standard high-drag, ungeneral-purpose bombs into highly accurate, long-range stand-off weapons.
Key Characteristics and Capabilities:
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Guidance System: It is equipped with a GPS/INS (Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System) guidance kit. This provides all-weather, day-and-night capability to strike fixed coordinates with high accuracy. Some analyses suggest it may also incorporate a satellite-aided guidance (e.g., BeiDou) for enhanced resistance to jamming and even greater accuracy.
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Warhead: It is a guidance kit attached to a standard 250 kg (550 lb) general-purpose bomb warhead (similar to the US Mk-82). This is a versatile and powerful warhead size capable of destroying hardened targets like bunkers, buildings, bridges, and port facilities.
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Range Extension (The Key Feature): The FT-6A’s most critical attribute is its large, long-span glide wings. These wings generate significant lift, allowing the bomb to glide for very long distances after release.
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Reported Range: While exact figures are classified, its range is estimated to be well over 60 kilometers (37 miles), with some sources suggesting it can exceed 90 km (56 miles) when released from high altitude and high speed. This range is its primary tactical advantage.
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Launch Platform: Due to its size and weight, it is typically carried by larger fighter-bombers and heavy fighters in the PLAAF and PLANAF inventory, such as the:
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Xian JH-7/A Flying Leopard: A dedicated long-range fighter-bomber.
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Shenyang J-16: A heavy multirole fighter capable of carrying a significant payload.
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Sukhoi Su-30MKK: A Russian-derived platform used by China.
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Comparison with Similar Weapons:
The FT-6A sits at the heavier end of the glide bomb spectrum, balancing large destructive power with significant stand-off range.
| Feature | Chinese FT-6A | Chinese FT-8 | US GBU-31 JDAM (2000lb) | Chinese FT-7 (100kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | 250 kg (550 lb) | ~250 kg (550 lb) | ~900 kg (2000 lb) | 100 kg (220 lb) |
| Key Feature | Long-Range Glide Kit | Standard-Range Guidance Kit | GPS/INS Kit for Penetration | Long-Range Glide Kit |
| Warhead | 250 kg GP Bomb | 250 kg GP Bomb | 900 kg Penetrator/GP | 100 kg GP Bomb |
| Range | Long (60+ km) | Medium (~20 km) | Medium (~15 km) | Long (90+ km) |
| Role | Long-Range Strike vs. Hardened Targets | General Purpose Precision Strike | Hardened Target/Area Destruction | Long-Range Strike vs. Point Targets |
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vs. the FT-8: This is the most direct comparison. Both use a 250kg warhead. The key difference is that the FT-6A is optimized for maximum glide range with its large wings, while the FT-8 is a more compact, standard-range JDAM-equivalent. The FT-6A is for striking defended targets from afar; the FT-8 is for cheaper, shorter-range missions.
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vs. a 2000lb JDAM: The FT-6A has a smaller warhead but a much longer glide range. A 2000lb JDAM is for sheer destructive power and penetration, but it requires the launch aircraft to get much closer to the target. The FT-6A prioritizes aircraft survivability.
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vs. the FT-7: Both are “range-extended” glide bombs. The difference is in warhead size and destructive effect. The FT-7 (100kg) is for precision strikes on point targets with minimal collateral damage at long range. The FT-6A (250kg) is for ensuring the destruction of larger, more hardened targets at a similar long range.
Strategic Significance:
The FT-6A is significant because it:
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Provides Heavy Stand-Off Capability: It allows Chinese aircraft to deliver a powerful 250kg warhead against high-value, well-defended targets (like airfields, command centers, and SAM sites) without having to penetrate dense air defense networks.
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Enables Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) Strategy: The long range of weapons like the FT-6A allows China to threaten forces, such as naval battle groups or air bases, from long distances, a core tenet of its A2/AD doctrine.
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Modernizes Legacy Ordnance: It transforms China’s vast stockpile of old, unguided 250kg bombs into modern, network-enabled precision weapons.
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Complements the Munitions Ecosystem: It provides a crucial “heavy punch” option in the FT family, filling the gap between the smaller FT-7/7A and much larger cruise missiles or ballistic missiles.
In summary, the FT-6A is a long-range, 250 kg precision glide bomb kit designed to provide a heavy stand-off strike capability. It is a key asset for degrading an enemy’s integrated air defense system and striking fixed, high-value targets from a safe distance, making it a strategically important weapon in the PLAAF’s inventory.
