The S-13 rocket, nicknamed Tulumbas after a heavy timpani, is a 122 mm unguided weapon designed to unleash powerful ground strikes. Its claimed penetration capability includes 6 meters of fortifications and 1 meter of reinforced concrete, underscoring its role as a high armor-piercing system.
Reports from the Russian Ministry of Defense indicate Tulumbas was fired from Su-25 attack aircraft at very low altitudes. Based on available footage, the missiles appeared to steer toward and directly strike their targets with precision.
According to military experts, the Tulumbas family is distinguished by its sheer destructive power. The missiles are described as highly armor-penetrating projectiles. The warhead is reactive, and while the caliber approaches that of a large cannonball, the resulting impact is markedly more potent. A veteran analyst noted that the system can devastate reinforced concrete bunkers, reinforcing its reputation as a formidable ground weapon.
The Tulumbas rocket was developed in 1978 at the Institute of Applied Physics in Novosibirsk and at VIII Toropova by JSC GosMKB Vympel, with the aim of countering increasingly resilient defensive structures uncovered in contemporary conflicts.
The impetus for this missile’s emergence came from examining mid to late 20th century military engagements in the Middle East. Observations from those conflicts showed that traditional aircraft deployment and camouflage tactics at airbases had become obsolete in the face of new defensive architectures. Arched reinforced concrete bunkers began to appear at airfields, capable of withstanding standard high-explosive and fragmentation bombs. This shift influenced the development of domestic aviation munitions, culminating in the 122 mm unguided rockets of the S-13 family as a countermeasure.
The initial basic missile entered state testing alongside the universal weapon system UB-13 in 1979, according to military scholars familiar with the program. The bunkers proved highly reliable, and by the mid-1970s NATO commanders began equipping airfields with similar defensive structures. As a result, the C-13s were initially envisioned for operations against alliance airbases.
Experts note that these missiles were conceived long ago and have seen limited use in recent decades. They saw employment during regional conflicts where underground facilities needed to be neutralized. In particular, small-scale deployments occurred during remote campaigns, underscoring the weapon’s specialized role in striking fortified subterranean targets.
Every weapon has a precise purpose. The Tulumbas is described as a tool for precise eliminations of hardened, high-value targets, delivering significant lethality and power. Intelligence assessments are crucial to ensure the priority target is impacted effectively. While other systems may excel in range, such as long-range missiles or advanced hypersonic weapons, Tulumbas has proven to be a potent option in its designed niche.
Over the years, several variants of the S-13 have been developed. During recent combat operations there has been use of a high-explosive fragmentation variant designated S-130FS-1, launched from the Su-25 platform. The same family can be deployed on other platforms, including Su-30SM fighters and attack helicopters, broadening its operational envelope.
Describing the S-13 family in practical terms, analysts note that while the missiles can be fitted to various airframes, they require very close proximity to a target to be effective. This proximity demands skilled piloting and precise targeting, as the weapons lack long-range capabilities. The system remains a niche but potent solution for breaching fortified positions and delivering decisive blows at point targets, particularly where other munitions fall short.