2014 Russia-Ukraine War

5-inch rocket pod in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Ukrainian Su-25 attack jets used U.S.-supplied 127 mm Zuni rockets from LAU-10 5-inch rocket pods during the full-scale phase of the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

Weapon profile5-inch rocket pod
SideUkraineRoleFire Support
5-inch rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod, Munitions - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: Grumman A-6A Intruder weapon load display, 1962 (NNAM.2011.003.240.028).jpg

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
The United States committed 4,000 Zuni aircraft rockets to Ukraine in January 2023.

Sources: DoD January 2023 Ukraine Assistance Release

Pentagon officials said the rockets could be mounted on Ukraine's existing aircraft for air or ground targets.

Sources: Pentagon January 2023 Ukraine Assistance Briefing

Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft were photographed or reported being armed with U.S.-made Zuni rockets in spring 2023.

Sources: Army Recognition Su-25 Zuni Rockets

A Ukrainian Su-25 was documented carrying U.S.-supplied 5-inch Zuni rockets in an LAU-10 rocket pod.

Sources: TWZ Ukraine Situation Report LAU-10 Su-25

Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 jets were reported striking Russian positions with American Zuni rockets from LAU-10 launchers.

Sources: UNITED24 Su-25 Zuni Strike

Timeline

5-inch rocket pod In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. United States announces Zuni rockets for Ukraine

    The U.S. Department of Defense listed 4,000 Zuni aircraft rockets in a Ukraine security-assistance package; a Pentagon briefing said the rockets could be mounted on Ukraine's existing aircraft.

    Sources: DoD January 2023 Ukraine Assistance Release, Pentagon January 2023 Ukraine Assistance Briefing

  2. Ukrainian Su-25 carriage reported

    Army Recognition reported images of U.S.-made Zuni rockets about to arm a Ukrainian Su-25 and described the LAU-10 rocket pod as the usual four-rocket launcher for Zuni.

    Sources: Army Recognition Su-25 Zuni Rockets

  3. LAU-10 pod identified on Ukrainian Su-25

    TWZ identified a Ukrainian Su-25 weapons load including U.S.-supplied 5-inch Zuni rockets loaded in an LAU-10 rocket pod.

    Sources: TWZ Ukraine Situation Report LAU-10 Su-25

  4. Su-25 strike with Zuni rockets reported

    UNITED24 Media reported that Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 jets from the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade struck Russian positions using American Zuni rockets and LAU-10 launchers.

    Sources: UNITED24 Su-25 Zuni Strike

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The 5-inch rocket pod is documented in Ukrainian service during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War through aircraft imagery and strike reporting. The U.S. Department of Defense announced 4,000 Zuni aircraft rockets for Ukraine on January 6, 2023, and a Pentagon briefing the same day said the rockets could be mounted on Ukraine's existing aircraft for air or ground targets.

By April and May 2023, imagery and defense reporting showed Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft being armed with U.S.-supplied 5-inch Zuni rockets. TWZ later identified a Ukrainian Su-25 carrying U.S.-supplied 5-inch Zuni rockets loaded in an LAU-10 rocket pod. UNITED24 Media reported on October 15, 2024 that Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 jets from the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade struck Russian positions using American Zuni rockets, with the jets equipped with LAU-10 launchers.

Sources: DoD January 2023 Ukraine Assistance Release, Pentagon January 2023 Ukraine Assistance Briefing, Army Recognition Su-25 Zuni Rockets, TWZ Ukraine Situation Report LAU-10 Su-25, UNITED24 Su-25 Zuni Strike

Timeline

The public record begins with the January 2023 U.S. assistance announcement, followed by aircraft imagery in spring 2023, later LAU-10 carriage documentation, and an October 2024 reported Su-25 strike against Russian positions. The sources support Ukrainian aircraft integration and battlefield use, but they do not establish a precise first combat firing date for LAU-10 pods in Ukrainian service.

Sources: DoD January 2023 Ukraine Assistance Release, Army Recognition Su-25 Zuni Rockets, TWZ Ukraine Situation Report LAU-10 Su-25, UNITED24 Su-25 Zuni Strike

Narrative

Ukraine adapted the Zuni and LAU-10 package to Soviet-designed aircraft rather than receiving a Western aircraft fleet for the weapon. The Pentagon described the Zuni rockets as compatible with Ukraine's existing aircraft, and subsequent reporting tied the system to Ukrainian Su-25 attack jets. Army Recognition reported in May 2023 that Ukraine's Air Force commander showed a Su-25 armed with Zuni rockets, while noting that the four-tube LAU-10/A family is the usual launcher for the 127 mm rocket.

The documented role was close air support and air-launched fire support against Russian ground positions. UNITED24 Media described a Ukrainian Air Force strike on a building occupied by Russian forces and identified LAU-10 launchers on the Su-25s involved. TWZ's April 2024 situation report separately identified a Ukrainian Su-25 weapons load that combined U.S.-supplied 5-inch Zuni rockets in an LAU-10 pod with Soviet-era S-13 rockets and an R-60M air-to-air missile.

Available public sources distinguish transfer, carriage, and use. The January 2023 DoD material supports U.S. supply of Zuni rockets to Ukraine; the May 2023 and April 2024 imagery reporting supports Ukrainian aircraft carriage of the rocket-and-pod package; and the October 2024 UNITED24 report supports combat employment by Ukrainian Su-25s against Russian positions.

Sources: Pentagon January 2023 Ukraine Assistance Briefing, Army Recognition Su-25 Zuni Rockets, TWZ Ukraine Situation Report LAU-10 Su-25, UNITED24 Su-25 Zuni Strike

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Sources