FT PGB is an abbreviation for a family of Chinese built precision guided munitions named To-Fly Precision Guided Bomb, developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. FT PGB is actually an upgrade kit to modernize gravity bombs with precision guidance. The kit consists of two modules, the inertial guidance module and the satellite guidance module. The primary guidance system is the satellite guidance module, a technology reportedly to be reverse engineered from unexploded Joint Direct Attack Munition ordnance in the NATO bombing of the People's Republic of China embassy in Belgrade, according to many Chinese military enthusiasts. A variety of satellite guidance can be used, such as GPS and GLONASS, as well as Chinese system Beidou navigation system, which will be usable in Asia-Pacific region in 2012. When satellite guidance is not available, the inertial guidance system is used, though the two systems are generally used together, complementing each other. Chinese media have shown photographs of FT PGB being dropped from helicopters such as Chinese Naval Ka-28, in addition to the fixed winged platforms. FT series PGB is also used as a component for a subfamily of another Chinese PGM, LS PGB, a family of gliding precision guided bomb. FT series PGB was first revealed to public at the 7thZhuhai Airshow held in November 2006 with two models of the family FT-1 and FT-3, and the family of this weapon is built to Chinese GJV289A standard, the Chinese equivalent of MIL-STD-1553B. The adaptation of such military standard means that the weapon can be readily deployed on any western platforms. There are 10 bombs in the FT family:
FT-1: satellite guided 500 kg / 1000 lb bombs
FT-2: satellite guided 500 kg / 1000 lb glide bombs
FT-3: satellite guided 250 kg / 500 lb bombs
FT-4: satellite guided 250 kg / 500 lb bombs with planar wing kit
FT-5: small diameter 100 kg bombs
FT-6: satellited guided 250 kg / 500 lb bombs with planar wing kit
FT-7: small 130 kg bomb with planar wing
FT-9: small 50 kg weapon for drones
FT-10: small 25 kg weapon
FT-12: large 500 kg glide bomb unit. A rocket booster can be attached to extend its range to 150 km, provided a release velocity of 600–1000 km/h.
: At the 9th Zhuhai Airshow held in November 2012, it was revealed that a family of satellite guided bombs utilizing FT PGB upgrade kit was designated as Tiangang. Produced by the subsidiary of Norinco, the , Polar star 500 was shown to the public at the airshow, named after 500 kg gravity bomb used. However, the developer confirmed that gravity bombs of other different sizes are available upon customer's requests. The marketing of Pole star series SGBs suggests that the FT PGB upgrade conversion kit, as well as the bombs armed with such conversion upgrade kits, the Pole star series, are both available for export.
