Ukrainian Armed Forces use American Zuni rockets

Ukrainian combat aviation uses American Zuni air-to-surface rockets against Russian invaders. A photo of a Su-25 attack aircraft armed with these rockets has been shown by Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk, Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force. Another photo was also published on social media.

These aircraft rockets are designed to engage ground targets, fortifications, other objects and columns of enemy equipment on the march. In January, the United States included 4,000 Zuni unguided rockets in one of its military aid packages to Ukraine.

Su-25 attack aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Forces with Zuni rockets. Photo credits: Mykola Oleschuk

The most active Zuni 127mm unguided air-to-surface rockets were used by the United States Navy and Marine Corps aviation in military campaigns of the 1960s-1970s, in particular in Vietnam.

The rocket was developed by engineers of the Naval Ordnance Test Station China Lake in the 1950s. Since 1958, it has been mass-produced by the Hunter-Douglas division of the Bridgeport Brass Company. In 1966, the rocket was licensed by the Belgian company Forges de Zeebrugge, now owned by Thales.

Rocket pod for Zuni air-to-surface rockets

Zuni rockets are launched from the LAU-10 rocket pod, which accommodates four rockets.

The weapons carriers, in addition to American aircraft of the 60-70s, were A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet fighters and Bell AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter.

LAU-10 rocket pod

The main technical features of the Zuni rocket are as follows: Diameter: 127 mm
Length: 2790 mm
Weight: 46.3-61.6 kg (depends on the type of engine and warhead)
Weight of warhead: 20,7-25,6 kg
Types of warhead: HE, HEAT-FRAG, ATAP, Illumination, Smoke
Maximum speed: 725 m/s
Range: 8 km.

Zuni rockets of the Ukrainian Air Forces, April 2023. Photo credits: @Osinttechnical

In the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the carriers of these American rockets have become Su-25 attack aircraft, which perform tasks to defeat fortifications and other ground facilities of the Russian invasion forces on the front line.

The closest equivalent to Zuni rockets in the arsenal of aircraft armament of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is considered the Soviet S-13 122mm unguided rocket.

However, the S-13 is significantly inferior to the Zuni rockets in its range fire.