- By Shubham Bajpai
- Mon, 22 Sep 2025 07:34 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a gut-wrenching incident, the Pakistani Air Force struck on Matre Dara village in the Tirah Valley district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing at least 30 civilians, including women and children.
While the Pakistani authorities asserted that the strike was carried out against the militants of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the opposition parties, including ex-PM Imran Khan's PTI, and the Pashtun rights organisations have argued that the military's counter terrorism actions are disproportionately aggressive and more often than not ignore local rights.
The rescue operation is underway, and the casualties are expected to rise further. According to reports, the PAF used LS-6 glide bombs from the JF-17 aircraft to carry out a massacre of Pashtuns in Tirah.
What are LS-6 glide bombs?
The LS-6 glide bombs are Chinese-built precision-guided bombs, which are also called the Thunder Stone gliding bombs of LS GGB. The munition has been developed by a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) named Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC).
It was first test-fired by the Chinese Army - People's Liberation Army - in 2006 from the Shenyang J-8E fighter jet. The glide bomb was showcased publicly at the 6th Zhuhai Airshow later that year.
How does LS-6 work?
Like several other Chinese munitions, the LS-6 uses China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system. It operates using an Inertial Navigation System (INS) combined with GPS or laser guidance. Unlike traditional bombs, the LS-6 is a guided kit that converts conventional free-fall bombs into a precision weapon that can hit fixed targets more accurately.
The LS-6 glide bomb features foldable wings and a cruciform tail made from composite materials and aluminum alloys. The shape enables it to glide through the air and extend its range without losing precision during flight.
This design aids the aircraft in deploying the bomb from high altitudes and long distances, minimising their exposure to enemy air defenses. It can be fitted to bomb weights of 50, 100, 500, and 550 kilograms.
Additionally, smaller variants are compact enough to be carried within the internal weapons bays of advanced fighter jets like the Chengdu J-20.
Range, speed and accuracy
The bomb is reported to hit up to 40 km after being dropped from 8,000 metres, but varies according to the height. When dropped from 10,000 metres, it can hit targets to a distance of 60 metres. The bomb can reach a speed of Mach 1 (1,234 kmph).
Regarding its accuracy, some reports argue that it can hit within a range of 15 metres. The other versions can achieve more accuracy like the ones with laser guidance.