Munitions / Air to surface missiles / S-8
S-8
General Facts
- TYPE
Aerial rocket - ORIGIN
USSR
- NICKNAMES
- - DESIGNED
1970's - DESIGNER
? - PRODUCTION
1984 - present - PRODUCERS
Russia
USSR
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Wide variety of warheads
Better accuracy than S-5
Unguided
Introduction
The S-8 is a family of unguided rockets of Soviet origin. The S-8 was developed in the 1970's as a response to the poor performance of the S-5 during Soviet use in Afghanistan. The S-8 is much more powerful and accurate while still small enough to allow the launch aircraft to carry a sizeable quantity. The S-8 is common on all late Cold War and modern aircraft in the ground attack role of Soviet/Russian origin.
Design
The S-8 can be considered an enlarged version of the S-5. The warhead and fuze are located at the front and the short burning rocket motor makes up most of the body. Each rocket has six folding fins that are retracted upon launch an provide stability in flight. The length and weight differ depending on warhead. S-8 rockets are unguided free flight rockets and do not feature any guidance. Targeting is achieved by pointing the launch aircraft in the direction of the target.
Firepower
The S-8 is much more effecive than the earlier S-5 rockets due to much higher accuracy and more powerful warheads. A wide variety of warheads is available which includes HEAT-Frag, anti-runway, thermobaric, illumination and others. Depending on the warhead the maximum range is 2 to 4.5 km. A 20 round rocket pod can be ripple fired in only a few seconds. A laser guidance kit for S-8 rockets has been developed, but is not in use yet.
Platform
The S-8 rockets are used on attack helicopters and ground attack fighters. On helicopters it is most commonly used on the Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter, but can also be found on armed versions of the Mi-8 Hip and the latest Mi-28 and Ka-50 attack helicopters. The Su-25 Frogfoot is the main fixed wing aircraft on which the S-8 is used, but it is also used on the Su-17 Fitter, MiG-29 Fulcrum, MiG-27 Flogger, Su-27 Flanker and Su-24 Fencer.
Users
The S-8 was in widespread use with Soviet forces at the later stages of the Cold War and replaced most S-5 missiles in use. The S-8 remains in widespread use and has been exported to various Warsaw Pact members and Soviet allies. The S-8 remains in widespread use today.
B-8M1
The B-8M1 rocket pod is the 20 round version for use on fixed wing aircraft. Compared to the helicopter version the B-8M1 is more streamlined resulting in much reduced drag. The rockets are arranged in two circles with an inner circle of 7 round and an outer circle of 13 rounds.
- Specifications:
- B-8M1
Type | Rocket pod |
---|---|
Platform | Aircraft |
Length | 2.76 m |
Diameter | 0.520 m |
---|---|
Weight | 160 kg empty |
Armament | 20x S-8 rocket |
Remarks | 250 mm lug spacing |
---|
B-8V20A
The B-8V20A rocket pod is the standard 20 round version for helicopter use. Unlike the B-8M1 it is not streamlined and it has the advantage of being lighter. The rockets are arranged in two circles with an inner circle of 7 round and an outer circle of 13 rounds. The B-8V7 is the latest rocket pod for the S-8. It is much smaller and lighter since it carries only 7 rounds. Unlike the other S-8 rocket pods it can be used on both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
Type | Rocket pod |
---|---|
Platform | Helicopters |
Length | 1.70 m |
Diameter | 0.520 m |
---|---|
Weight | 123 kg empty |
Armament | 20x S-8 rocket |
Remarks | 250 mm lug spacing |
---|
Type | Rocket pod |
---|---|
Platform | Aircraft, helicopters |
Length | 1.70 m |
Diameter | 0.336 m |
---|---|
Weight | 40 kg empty |
Armament | 7x S-8 rocket |
Remarks | 250 mm lug spacing |
---|
Standard rounds
The S-8 rockets come in a large number of versions that differ in warhead type and effective range.
S-8KO: HEAT-Frag warhead for use against infantry, vehicles and normal buildings. Most common S-8 version.
S-8KOM: Improved version of the S-8KO.
S-8B: Concrete penetrating round for use against bunkers, runways and aircraft shelters.
S-8BM: Improved version of the S-8B.
S-8D: Version with thermobaric warhead for use against infantry.
S-8DM: Improved version of the S-8D.
S-8DF: S-8D with different type of thermobaric warhead.
S-8O: Version with illuminating flare.
S-8OM: Improved version of the S-8O.
Type | Unguided rocket |
---|---|
Diameter | 82 mm body, 384 mm wingspan |
Length | 1.57 m |
Weight | 11.3 kg |
Guidance | Unguided, ballistic flight |
---|---|
Warhead | HEAT-Frag, 3.6 kg warhead containing 0.9 kg explosive, penetrates 400mm RHA |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 610 m/s |
Range | 1.3 to 4 km |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Unguided rocket |
---|---|
Diameter | 82 mm body, 384 mm wingspan |
Length | 1.54 m |
Weight | 15.2 kg |
Guidance | Unguided, ballistic flight |
---|---|
Warhead | Concrete penetrating, 7.41 kg warhead, 0.6 kg explovies, penetrates 0.8 m reinforced concrete |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 450 m/s |
Range | 1.2 to 2.2 km |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Unguided rocket |
---|---|
Diameter | 82 mm body, 384 mm wingspan |
Length | 1.66 m |
Weight | 11.6 kg |
Guidance | Unguided, ballistic flight |
---|---|
Warhead | Thermobaric, 3.8 kg, 2.15 kg explosives, equivalent to 5.5 kg TNT |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 590 m/s |
Range | 1.3 to 3 km |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Unguided rocket |
---|---|
Diameter | 82 mm body, 384 mm wingspan |
Length | 1.68 m |
Weight | 13.4 kg |
Guidance | Unguided, ballistic flight |
---|---|
Warhead | Thermobaric, 5.5 kg, 3.3 kg explosives, equivalent to 6 kg TNT |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 500 m/s |
Range | 1.3 to 4 km |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Unguided rocket |
---|---|
Diameter | 82 mm body, 384 mm wingspan |
Length | 1.63 m |
Weight | 12.1 kg |
Guidance | Unguided, ballistic flight |
---|---|
Warhead | Illuminating, 2 megacandela flare for 30 seconds |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 545 m/s |
Range | 4 to 4.5 km |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Special rounds
A wide variety of specialist rounds based on the S-8 have been developed. It is unknown if all versions listed are in service.
S-8T: HEAT version with tandem warhead for use against ERA and no fragmentation effects. Only effective against armored vehicles.
S-8P: Chaff round for radar distraction.
S-8PM: Improved version of the S-8P.
S-8S: Flechette round for use against infantry in the open.
S-8TsM: Target marking round with smoke effect.
S-8Kor: S-8 with laser guidance, not in use yet.
Type | Unguided rocket |
---|---|
Diameter | 82 mm body, 384 mm wingspan |
Length | 1.7 m |
Weight | 13 kg |
Guidance | Unguided, ballistic flight |
---|---|
Warhead | Tandem HEAT, 6.6 kg incl 1.6 kg explosive, penetration 400mm RHA behind ERA |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | ? |
Range | 1.3 to 4 km |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Unguided rocket |
---|---|
Diameter | 82 mm body, 384 mm wingspan |
Length | 1.63 m |
Weight | 12.3 kg |
Guidance | Unguided, ballistic flight |
---|---|
Warhead | 4.5 kg chaff |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 545 m/s |
Range | 2 to 3 km |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Unguided rocket |
---|---|
Diameter | 82 mm body, 384 mm wingspan |
Length | 1.612 m |
Weight | 13 kg |
Guidance | Unguided, ballistic flight |
---|---|
Warhead | Flechette warhead, 2.000 flechettes in 5 bundles |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | ? |
Range | 1.2 to 3.5 km |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Unguided rocket |
---|---|
Diameter | 82 mm body, 384 mm wingspan |
Length | 1.605 m |
Weight | 11.1 kg |
Guidance | Unguided, ballistic flight |
---|---|
Warhead | Target marking warhead |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | ? |
Range | 1.3 to 2 km (helicopter) 1.3 to 3 km (plane) |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | Marking smoke visible out to 6 km |
Type | Air to ground missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 82 mm body, 384 mm wingspan |
Length | ? |
Weight | 15.2 kg |
Guidance | Laser guidance |
---|---|
Warhead | BM-8 6 kg warhead, 1.8 kg TNT equivalent, penetration 400mm RHA |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 480 m/s |
Range | 2.5 to 8 km |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |