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-8BMrunway-destroying munition and the S-8DMfuel-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
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. VIK-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.
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.[16][17][18]