OVERVIEW: The S‑8KO is an unguided, 80mm air-to-surface rocket equipped with a HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) warhead for light armor engagement and hardened target suppression. It is fired from 20- or 7-tube pods mounted under fixed- and rotary-wing platforms.

DETAILS: Introduced in 1985 by the Soviet Union, the S‑8KO measures approximately 1.57 m in length, with a launch weight of about 11.3 kg. It features a 3.6 kg HEAT warhead capable of penetrating up to 400 mm of RHA (rolled homogeneous armor) using a shaped charge. The rocket is spin-stabilized by four deployable fins and uses low-smoke solid propellant, reaching a maximum velocity of 650 m/s and a range of 1.3 to 4 km. Detonation is triggered by the V-5KP1 impact fuze upon hitting a target.

As a dedicated HEAT round within the S‑8 family, the S‑8KO offers superior armor penetration compared to general-purpose or fragmentation variants like the S‑8KOM or S‑8BM.

The rocket is loaded into B‑8M1 or B‑8V20A pods mounted on attack aircraft or helicopters. After launch, aerodynamic fins deploy for in-flight stabilization, and the shaped charge warhead activates on direct impact with armored or fortified targets.

NOTE:
IOC: 1985
Operators: Russia, India, Algeria, Syria, Egypt, Vietnam
Platforms: Su‑17, Su‑20, Su‑22, Su‑24, Su‑25, Su‑27, MiG‑23BN, MiG‑27, MiG‑29, Mi‑8, Mi‑24, Mi‑28, Ka‑29, Ka‑50, Ka‑52
Conflict used in: Soviet–Afghan War (1985–1989), Syrian Civil War (2015–present), Russo-Ukrainian War (2022–present)

SOURCE:
Weaponsystems.net: https://weaponsystems.net/system/183-80mm%2BS-8 ; Jane’s Air-Launched Weapons ; FAS: https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/s-8.htm ; Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-8_(rocket)