Exclusive: China Converts 155mm & 152mm Artillery Shells into Kamikaze Drone-Ready Precision Glide Bombs.

According to pictures released on social networks in May 2025, a Chinese defense company has developed an advanced modular system capable of converting standard 155mm and 152mm artillery shells into precision-guided glide bombs. The images depict artillery shells retrofitted with sophisticated aerodynamic kits including foldable wings, tail fins, and a nose-mounted guidance module. This innovation marks a significant leap in battlefield adaptability, enabling conventional artillery munitions to be launched from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, or fixed-wing aircraft as precise standoff weapons.
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An artillery shell fitted with a Chinese-developed modular guidance kit, featuring foldable wings and tail fins, transforming it into a kamikaze drone-ready precision glide bomb. (Picture source: China Social Network)

A precision-guided glide bomb is an air-launched munition designed to achieve accurate target engagement over extended distances. Unlike traditional bombs that follow a ballistic arc, glide bombs utilize aerodynamic lift through attached wings to extend their range. Once released from an aircraft at altitude, typically between 5,000 and 6,000 m, these bombs can travel up to 50 km, adjusting their flight path using a combination of inertial navigation systems (INS) and satellite positioning such as GPS or China's BeiDou. This makes them especially valuable for engaging defended or high-value targets while keeping the launch platform at a safe distance.

The Chinese system brings this technology to a new class of weapons by adapting legacy artillery rounds rather than creating entirely new air-launched bombs. The transformation involves several key physical modifications. A guidance unit is affixed to the shell’s nose, incorporating navigation electronics and flight control software. Foldable wings are mounted mid-body or rearward, designed to deploy automatically upon release, while the tail section features control surfaces connected to micro-servo actuators. These components operate in concert to provide aerodynamic stability and precise steering throughout the bomb’s descent.

What makes this development particularly strategic is its potential battlefield application, especially when viewed through the lens of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The conflict has highlighted the operational impact of glide bombs and kamikaze drones, with both Ukrainian and Russian forces employing improvised and industrial solutions to deliver conventional payloads with remarkable precision. This Chinese innovation fits directly into that tactical space, allowing modified artillery shells to be carried by UAVs and used as guided kamikaze munitions. Once launched, they can independently navigate to a target and detonate on impact, serving as highly accurate, cost-effective weapons for deep strike missions.

Such systems offer immense value for saturation attacks and swarming tactics, particularly in environments where electronic warfare, dense air defenses, or logistical constraints limit the use of expensive missile platforms. The low cost of converting existing artillery rounds into precision-guided aerial munitions means that military units can field large quantities of these weapons quickly. Furthermore, their compatibility with legacy calibers such as 152mm used by former Soviet-aligned militaries suggests strong export potential, especially to nations already equipped with similar artillery inventories.

From a strategic standpoint, this innovation represents a merging of artillery and airpower, providing a flexible alternative to missile systems without sacrificing accuracy. It also offers a modular, scalable solution for modern militaries looking to enhance their strike capabilities without incurring the high costs of new munitions development. For China's defense industry, this development underscores an ongoing emphasis on hybrid systems that maximize utility across platforms, while responding directly to the evolving nature of modern warfare shaped by drone usage, precision engagement, and asymmetric conflict dynamics.

The conversion of artillery shells into glide bombs is not only a technical feat but a tactical asset. It empowers forces to adapt legacy ammunition into modern guided weapons, increases operational reach, and introduces a new layer of flexibility in air-to-ground strike doctrine. As warfare continues to evolve toward networked and unmanned operations, systems like these will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the future battlefield.