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 Aerospace Forces and various export customers.

A S-8 KOM HEAT/FRAG rocket.

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] The S-8OFP entered service and put into serial production in May 2023.[4]

An armored self-propelled 80-tube MLRS vehicle using S-8 rockets has been developed by Belarusian industry. Relatively short range of the rocket (3 – 5 km cross-ground) compared to Grad rockets is compensated for by lower cost and greater beaten area from a high number of rockets.[5] Serbia has developed the helicopter pod L80-07.[6] The S-8 has been used in ground-to-ground mode against Ukrainian positions at Pavlopil by pro-Russian forces during the war in Donbas on 4 May[7] and 20 June 2020. Two unexploded rockets were defused by the Ukrainian army in the later incident.[8]

Rocket specifications
DesignationTypeLength overallLaunch weightWarhead weightRangeNotes
S-8HEAT1.56 m11.5 kg3.6 kg
(0.9 kg of Hecphol-5/A-IX-10 explosive)		1.3 to 4 kmBasic variant. 350 mm versus RHA. Velocity 692 m/s. N-26A fuze. VIK-2D motor powder. During launch of this model may have black smoke.
S-8KOHEAT1.57 m11.3 kg3.6 kg
(1.1 kg of Hecphol-5/A-IX-10 explosive)		1.3 to 4 km400 mm versus RHA. Velocity 610 m/s. Improved fuze V-5KP1. Low smoke motor with powder BN-K.
S-8KOM [9]HEAT1.57 m11.3 kg3.6 kg
(1.1 kg of Hecphol-5/A-IX-10 explosive)		1.3 to 4 km400 mm versus RHA. Velocity 700 m/s. Used improved BNK-P low smoke motor powder with twice burn time.
S-8BPenetrating1.5 m15.2 kg7.41 kg (0.6 kg of explosive)1.2 to 2.2 km800 mm versus reinforced concrete.
S-8BM[10]Penetrating1.54 m15.2 kg7.41 kg (0.6 kg of explosive)1.2 to 2.2 km800 mm versus reinforced concrete. Velocity 450 m/s.
S-8DFAE1.66 m11.6 kg3.8 kg (2.15 kg of explosive)1.3 to 3 km
S-8DMFAE1.7 m11.6 kg3.8 kg (2.15 kg of explosive)1.3 to 3 km5.5–6 kg TNT equivalent. Velocity 590 m/s
S-8DF[11]FAE1.68 m13.4 kg5.5 kg (3.3 kg of explosive)1.3 to 4 km6 kg TNT equivalent. Velocity 500 m/s
S-8 OIlluminating1.63 m12.1 kg4.3 kg4 to 4.5 km2 megacandela flare warhead
S-8 OM[12]Illuminating1.63 m12.1 kg4.3 kg4 to 4.5 km2 megacandela flare warhead burns for 30 seconds. Velocity 545 m/s.
S-8T [13]Tandem-HEAT1.68 m15 kg6.6 kg (1.6 kg of explosive)1.3 to 4 kmTandem HEAT 360–400 mm versus RHA after ERA, 440 mm versus RHA. Velocity 470 m/s
S-8PChaff1.63 m12.3 kg4.5 kg of chaff2 to 3 km
S-8PM[14]Chaff1.63 m12.3 kg4.5 kg of chaff2 to 3 km545 m/s velocity.
S-8SFlechette1.612 m13 kg4.3 kg1.2 to 3.5 km2,000 flechettes in 5 bundles
S-8TsM[15]Target marking1.605 m11.1 kg3.6 kg1.3 to 2 km (heli)
1.3 to 3 km (plane)		target/route marking smoke visible 6 km away
S-8OFP1HE-Frag-Penetrating1.428 m16.7 kg9.2 kg
(2.8 kg of explosive)		up to 6 kmimproved 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.[16][17][18]

See also

References
  1. "Ракета "Бронебойщик" прошла госиспытания". 17 February 2019.
  2. New Air-ground Rocket For Russian Attack Aircraft. Aviation International News. 10 July 2018.
  3. "Russia continues creating missiles".
  4. "ЦАМТО / / В России начался серийный выпуск новейшей авиационной ракеты повышенного могущества «Бронебойщик»".
  5. Unexpectedly, Syria might buy the Belarusian MLRS instead the Russian Grad. BulgarianMilitary.com. April 29, 2020
  6. "Serbia unveils new equipment".
  7. Tsymbaliuk, Yeuhenni (8 May 2020). "Statement on Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine and illegal occupation of Crimea" (PDF). OSCE Conference Service.
  8. "Two unguided aircraft missile launched by Russian mercenaries destroyed near Pavlopil – Ukraine's military". Interfax-Ukraine. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  9. "S-8KOM". Rosoboronexport.
  10. "S-8BM". Rosoboronexport.
  11. "S-8DF". Rosoboronexport.
  12. "S-8OM". Rosoboronexport.
  13. "S-8T". Rosoboronexport.
  14. "S-8PM". Rosoboronexport.
  15. "S-8TsM". Rosoboronexport.
  16. "Огненный кулак ВКС России: на что способна новая ракета С-8ОФП". 25 June 2018.
  17. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Камера "Звезды" едва не сгорела при пуске ракет: эксклюзивные кадры "Военной приемки"". YouTube.
  18. "Стрельбы тульской ракетой «Бронебойщик» попали на видео | Тульская Служба Новостей". www.tsn24.ru. Archived from the original on 2018-07-01.
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