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S-5 rocket

The S-5 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-5 is a 55mm (2.2 in) rocket used by fighter bombers and helicopters. It is produced in a variety of subtypes with different warheads, including hollow-charge anti-armor, high-explosive fragmentation, smoke, and incendiary rounds. Each rocket is about 1.4 meters (4 ft 6 in) long and weighs about 5 kg (11 lb), depending on warhead and fuse. Range is 3 to 4 kilometers (1.9 to 2.6 miles).

The S-5 is generally carried in the UB series of rocket pods, with 16, 20, or 32 rockets. UB pods are designated UB-N-57 (where N is the number of rockets), with "57" referring to the actual diameter of the launch tube (the diameter of the rocket plus 2mm).

S-5 rockets were used extensively by Sukhoi Su-25 and Mil Mi-24 aircraft in Afghanistan in the 1980s, where their effectiveness was considered poor. The Russian forces have shifted to higher-caliber weapons like the S-8 rocket instead.

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