The S3V guided bomb is designed to destroy submarines operating in the following modes: surfaced, at periscope depth, submerged to the maximum depth of 600 m, or lying on the sea bottom.

The S3V bomb equipped with a shapedcharge HE warhead features excellent cost-efficiency. Its hit probability exceeds by 1.2 to 1.5 times that of standard ASW air bombs at moderate depths, and by 4 to 8 times at great depths of up to 600 m. In storage the bomb does not require any special maintenance or testing. The S3V bomb arms the Mi-14 and Ka-28 helicopters.