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.
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.
Rocket specifications
| Designation | Type | Length overall | Launch weight | Warhead weight | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S-8KO | HEAT | 1.57 m | 11.3 kg | 3.6 kg (0.9 kg of explosive) | 1.3 to 4 km | 400 mm versus RHA |
| S-8KOM | HEAT | 1.57 m | 11.3 kg | 3.6 kg (0.9 kg of explosive) | 1.3 to 4 km | 400 mm versus RHA. Velocity 610 m/s |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Tandem-HEAT | 1.7 m | 13 kg | 6.6 kg (1.6 kg of explosive) | 1.3 to 4 km | Tandem HEAT 400 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 | 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 | 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 |
An upgraded version, S-8OFP, has a length of 1.428 m, a weight of less than 17 kg, and a range of 6 km.
See also
- S-5 rocket
- S-13 rocket
- Ugroza, a proposed upgrade of "dumb" rockets to salvo-fired laser-guided precision missiles
References
- 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