S-8 (rocket)
The S-8 is a rocket weapon developed by the Soviet Air Force for use by military aircraft. It remains in service with the Russian Air Force and various export customers.
![](../I/S-8_KOM_80_mm_rocket.jpg.webp)
Developed in the 1970s, the S-8 is an 80 mm (3.1 in) rocket used by fighter bombers and helicopters. The system entered service in 1984 and is produced in a variety of subtypes with different warheads, including HEAT anti-armor, high-explosive fragmentation, smoke, and incendiary, as well as the specialized S-8BM runway-destroying munition and the S-8DM fuel-air explosive variants. Each rocket is between 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) and 1.7 meters (5 ft 7 in) long and weighs between 11.3 kg (25 lb) and 15.2 kg (33.5 lb), depending on warhead and fuse. Range is 2 to 4 kilometers (1.3 to 2.6 mi).
The S-8 is generally carried in the B series of rocket pods, carrying either seven or 20 rockets.
In 2018, the Russian Aerospace Forces took delivery and completed state tests of several batches of the S-8OFP Broneboishchik, successor to the S-8. While both rockets are unguided, the S-8OFP has greater range, a heavier warhead, and a digital fuse. The rocket is intended for armament of Su-25 type aircraft and Mi-8 helicopters, depending on the settings of the fuse, is able to penetrate obstacles facing the set targets, it can also explode in front of the obstacle and behind the obstacle. [1][2][3]
An armored self-propelled 80-tube MLRS vehicle using S-8 rockets has been developed by Belorussian industry. Relatively short range of the rocket (3 - 5km cross-ground) compared to Grad rockets is compensated for by lower cost and greater beaten area from a high number of rockets.[4]
Rocket specifications
Designation | Type | Length overall | Launch weight | Warhead weight | Range | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S-8 | HEAT | 1.56 m | 11.5 kg | 3.6 kg (0.9 kg of Hecphol-5/A-IX-10 explosive) | 1.3 to 4 km | Basic variant. 350 mm versus RHA. Velocity 692 m/s. N-26A fuze. BIK-2D motor powder. During launch of this model may have black smoke. |
S-8KO | HEAT | 1.57 m | 11.3 kg | 3.6 kg (1.1 kg of Hecphol-5/A-IX-10 explosive) | 1.3 to 4 km | 400 mm versus RHA. Velocity 610 m/s. Improved fuze V-5KP1. low smoke motor with powder BN-K. |
S-8KOM [5] | HEAT | 1.57 m | 11.3 kg | 3.6 kg (1.1 kg of Hecphol-5/A-IX-10 explosive) | 1.3 to 4 km | 400 mm versus RHA. Velocity 700 m/s. Used improved BNK-P low smoke motor powder with twice burn time. |
S-8B | Penetrating | 1.5 m | 15.2 kg | 7.41 kg (0.6 kg of explosive) | 1.2 to 2.2 km | 800 mm versus reinforced concrete. |
S-8BM[6] | Penetrating | 1.54 m | 15.2 kg | 7.41 kg (0.6 kg of explosive) | 1.2 to 2.2 km | 800 mm versus reinforced concrete. Velocity 450 m/s. |
S-8D | FAE | 1.66 m | 11.6 kg | 3.8 kg (2.15 kg of explosive) | 1.3 to 3 km | |
S-8DM | FAE | 1.7 m | 11.6 kg | 3.8 kg (2.15 kg of explosive) | 1.3 to 3 km | 5.5–6 kg TNT equivalent. Velocity 590 m/s |
S-8DF[7] | FAE | 1.68 m | 13.4 kg | 5.5 kg (3.3 kg of explosive) | 1.3 to 4 km | 6 kg TNT equivalent. Velocity 500 m/s |
S-8 O | Illuminating | 1.63 m | 12.1 kg | 4.3 kg | 4 to 4.5 km | 2 megacandela flare warhead |
S-8 OM[8] | Illuminating | 1.63 m | 12.1 kg | 4.3 kg | 4 to 4.5 km | 2 megacandela flare warhead burns for 30 seconds. Velocity 545 m/s. |
S-8T [9] | Tandem-HEAT | 1.68 m | 15 kg | 6.6 kg (1.6 kg of explosive) | 1.3 to 4 km | Tandem HEAT 360–400 mm versus RHA after ERA, 440 mm versus RHA. Velocity 470 m/s |
S-8P | Chaff | 1.63 m | 12.3 kg | 4.5 kg of chaff | 2 to 3 km | |
S-8PM[10] | Chaff | 1.63 m | 12.3 kg | 4.5 kg of chaff | 2 to 3 km | 545 m/s velocity. |
S-8S | Flechette | 1.612 m | 13 kg | 4.3 kg | 1.2 to 3.5 km | 2,000 flechettes in 5 bundles |
S-8TsM[11] | Target marking | 1.605 m | 11.1 kg | 3.6 kg | 1.3 to 2 km (heli) 1.3 to 3 km (plane) | target/route marking smoke visible 6 km away |
S-8OFP1 | HE-Frag-Penetrating | 1.428 m | 16.7 kg | 9.2 kg (2.8 kg of explosive) | up to 6 km | improved motor with twice energy; pre-fragmented body; dual-mode fuzes allow to detonate after penetration of concrete or light armor; nicknamed "Broneboyshchik" |
S-8OFP was already deployed in mid-late 2018 and have been seen at operational launch with Mi-35M helicopter.[12][13][14]
See also
- S-5 rocket
- S-13 rocket
- Ugroza, a proposed upgrade of "dumb" rockets to salvo-fired laser-guided precision missiles
References
- https://ria.ru/20190217/1550984348.html
- New Air-ground Rocket For Russian Attack Aircraft. Aviation International News. 10 July 2018.
- https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/russia_continues_creating_missiles.html
- Unexpectedly, Syria might buy the Belarusian MLRS instead the Russian Grad. BulgarianMilitary.com. April 29, 2020
- "S-8KOM". Rosoboronexport.
- "S-8BM". Rosoboronexport.
- "S-8DF". Rosoboronexport.
- "S-8OM". Rosoboronexport.
- "S-8T". Rosoboronexport.
- "S-8PM". Rosoboronexport.
- "S-8TsM". Rosoboronexport.
- https://tvzvezda.ru/news/opk/content/201806251657-kptc.htm
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipfLEMfTLE8
- http://www.tsn24.ru/strelby-tulskoj-raketoj-bronebojshhik-popali-na-video.html
- Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two, Yefim Gordon, ISBN 1-85780-188-1
- Mil Mi-24 Hind Attack Helicopter, Yefim Gordon and Dimitri Komissarov, ISBN 1-84037-238-9
- Jane's Air Launched Weapons Issue 36, Duncan Lennox, ISBN 0-7106-0866-7
- Warfare.ru S-8 rockets
- VTTV-99 S-8 rocket specs
- Army-2018: Zaslon Center presents new 80mm MLRS based on 4x4 UAZ pickup