Ukraine 'exhausting' entire US stockpile of Zuni rockets? Let's move on to indigenous guided aerial bombs to hit Russia

Ukraine's air arsenal received a boost straight from the annals of American military history when venerable Zuni aerial rockets, relics of a bygone era, found new life in the ongoing conflict, raining down on Russian forces like an echo from the past.

Recently, General Serhiy Golubtsov, Chief of Aviation of the Ukrainian Air Force Command, highlighted a remarkable fact: Ukraine received the entire US stock of Zuni aerial rockets.

These aging but formidable weapons, once a pillar of American air power, have been used in combat, leaving no more weapons available for acquisition.

Zuni rockets, with their distinctive folding fins and modular design, have a storied past dating back to the final stages of World War II. Originally designed as a 5-inch anti-aircraft rocket, the Zuni lineage evolved through various iterations, culminating in the powerful and versatile weapon that Ukraine now uses.

Speaking to @donbassrealiiGeneral Golubtsov of PS ZSU reports that Ukraine received the entire stock of Zuni aerial rockets from the United States.

All these rockets have been spent in combat and it is no longer possible to acquire new Zunis.

in alt text pic.twitter.com/gFSQVqkMVU

– John Ridge (@John_A_Ridge) June 9, 2024

While the rest of the world has largely turned to more sophisticated guided munitions, Ukraine's Su-25 Frogfoot attack planes have adopted these aerial relics, arming themselves with U.S.-supplied Zuni rockets.

Social media has seen these planes in action before, last year raining down Zuni fury on unsuspecting Russian targets.

But the Zuni rule may be short-lived, as General Golubtsov revealed that the Ukrainian Air Force is already preparing to test Ukrainian-made guided aerial bombs, ushering in a new era of war power. indigenous aerial fire.

In an unprecedented show of support, the United States has provided Ukraine with a whopping $51.9 billion in security assistance since the start of President Joe Biden's administration. This colossal aid program since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022 has become a lifeline for Ukraine's defense efforts.

Details of this monumental commitment were revealed on the US Department of Defense website, with a full list of promised weapons made public. Among this formidable arsenal, a particular relic of the American military past stands out: the legendary Zuni aerial rockets.

According to official documents, the United States has committed to providing Ukraine with more than 6,000 of these fearsome air-to-ground rockets, weapons that can serve as both offensive and defensive tools in the skies above of the conflict zone.

The transfer of these old but powerful Zuni rockets gained further momentum in January 2023, when the Pentagon confirmed the delivery of 4,000 Zuni units as part of a colossal $3 billion military aid package.

The enduring legacy of the Zuni Rocket

The Zuni aerial rocket, a weapons system implanted at the heart of the Ukrainian conflict, has its origins in the crucible of the Second World War. Born from the need to equip tactical aircraft with formidable air-to-ground firepower, the Zuni lineage is a testament to the ingenuity and adaptability of military technology.

In the latter stages of the war, the U.S. Army introduced the first iteration of the 5-inch rocket, a powerful armament derived from previous anti-submarine rockets used by the Navy. This initial design, known as the Forward-Firing Aircraft Rocket (FFAR), combined the engine of the anti-submarine variant with the warhead of an anti-aircraft shell, marking a significant milestone in air warfare.

Not content to rest on their laurels, American engineers quickly unveiled the High-Velocity Aircraft Rocket (HVAR), an improved version with a larger engine, improved speed and increased destructive capabilities. This weapon quickly proved its worth on the battlefields of the time, cementing its place in the annals of military history.

As the postwar years progressed, the Navy continued to refine and innovate, introducing the folding fin design that allowed streamlined external pods to carry multiple rockets simultaneously. This advancement ushered in the FFAR designation, laying the foundation for the iconic Zuni rocket that would soon see the light of day.

Introduced in the late 1950s, the Zuni FFAR embodied the essence of modular design, allowing for the deployment of different types of warheads, rockets and engines.

At an impressive 110 inches long and weighing over 100 pounds, this aerial monster became a staple of the United States airborne arsenal and saw extensive action during the Vietnam War.

However, the Zuni legacy is not without its darker moments. In July 1967, a tragic incident aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal etched the rocket's name in infamy when an accidental firing on the deck ignited a devastating fire, causing extensive damage and loss of life human.

As the years passed and guided munitions grew in importance, the basic Zuni rocket gradually faded from the forefront of the American arsenal. Yet the ingenuity that gave it birth has endured, manifesting itself in more modern variants like the Wrap-Around Fin Aerial Rocket (WAFAR), featuring redesigned nozzles, fins, and a smokeless booster.

The Zuni rocket's journey is a testament to the resilience of human ingenuity, a living embodiment of the adage that necessity is the mother of invention. Although Zuni's days may be numbered, these aviation veterans have once again proven their worth, defying obsolescence and raining down their own brand of destruction on those who would threaten Ukraine's sovereignty.

As echoes of its explosive history resonate across the modern theater of war, the Zuni serves as a reminder that even the most unlikely technologies can find new life and purpose in the most unexpected circumstances.

• Shubhangi Palve is a defense and aerospace journalist. Before joining the EurAsian Times, she worked for ET Prime. In this capacity, she focused on covering defense strategies and the defense sector from a financial perspective. She offers over 15 years of in-depth experience in the media industry, spanning print, electronic and online.
• Contact the author at shubhapalve (at) gmail (dot) com.