The S-5 is a Soviet 57 mm-class unguided rocket family built for pod-launched use on helicopters and strike aircraft. First adopted in the 1950s, it later spread into improvised ground roles and was linked by investigators to Myanmar's 16 September 2022 Let Yet Kone school attack.
In the 2021 Myanmar Civil War, Myanmar Witness verified S-5 rocket remnants at the Let Yet Kone school attack site after the 16 September 2022 Mi-35 helicopter strikes in Tabayin Township.
The family traded warheads and fuzing rather than launcher hardware. ARES lists these as the most common documented S-5 variants.
| Variant | Role | Documented note |
|---|---|---|
| S-5M / S-5M1 | HE-FRAG | Produces 75 fragments |
| S-5MO | HE-FRAG | Produces 360 fragments |
| S-5K / S-5K1 | HEAT | Penetrates 130 mm RHA |
| S-5KO | HEAT-FRAG | Produces 220 fragments |
| S-5KP / S-5KPB | HEAT-FRAG | Sensitive piezoelectric fuze |
| S-5S / S-5SB | Flechette | 1,000-1,100 flechettes |
| S-5O / S-5O1 | Illumination | Parachute flare on S-5O1 |
| S-5P / S-5P1 | Chaff | Time-fuzed chaff round |
The S-5 family was designed for pod launch, not loose carriage, and the common Soviet pods kept the rocket in a helicopter and strike-aircraft store set.
| Launcher | Launcher type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 16-round rocket pod | ARES identifies the S-5 family as fired from UB-16-57 launchers loaded with 16 rockets, which is the same launcher family represented by the UB-16UM pod entry. Sources: ARES Research Report No. 1: S-5 Rockets in Land Warfare |
The rocket also appears in aircraft stores documentation for the L-39ZA light combat variant.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Jet trainer and light attack aircraft | The L-39ZA documentation explicitly says the aircraft carries UB-16UM rocket pods with 16 S-5KO 57 mm rockets apiece. Sources: DCS L-39ZA Albatros Guide |
Aero's Skyfox brochure shows the rocket in a pod loadout for the L-39NG.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Two-seat trainer/light attack aircraft | Aero's Skyfox brochure lists UB-16-57UMP rocket pods loaded with S-5 rockets among eastern payloads and in a mission profile using two pods with 32 rockets total. Sources: L-39 SKYFOX brochure | Aero |
The S-5 family was built around standard Soviet rocket pods. The two best-documented launchers differ mainly in tube count and size.
| Launcher | Tubes | Length | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| UB-16-57 | 16 | 1,678 mm | 321 mm |
| UB-32-57 | 32 | 2,080 mm | 464 mm |
The first S-5 versions enter Soviet service.
Sources: ARES Research Report No. 1: S-5 Rockets in Land Warfare
S-5 launchers appear in improvised ground-use in Libya.
Sources: ARES Research Report No. 1: S-5 Rockets in Land Warfare
Investigators identify S-5 remnants at Let Yet Kone.
Sources: Myanmar Witness Tabayin School Attack report
