RPO-A Shmel

RPO-A Shmel
RPO-Shmel and Launcher
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	Late 1980s
Used by	See Users
Production history
Manufacturer	KBP
Specifications
Weight	11 kg
Length	920 mm
Caliber	93 mm
Muzzle velocity	125 ±5 m/s
Effective firing range	20m - 1000m

The RPO-A "Shmel" (Rus. "РПО-А Шмель") ("Bumblebee") is a man-portable rocket launcher although it is classified as a flamethrower (Rus. Реактивный Пехотный Огнемет) by the manufacturer, KBP, Tula.

The "Shmel" is designed, produced and exported by the Russian Federation and previously by the Soviet Union. It entered service with the Soviet Armed Forces at the end of the 1980s as the successor for the RPO "Rys".

Description

The RPO-A is a single-shot, self-contained tube shaped launcher which operates much like some RPG and LAW rocket launchers. The launcher is a sealed tube, carried in a man-pack in pairs. The same person can remove the tube, place it in firing position, and launch the weapon without assistance. After launch, the tube is discarded. All models are externally similar.

Ammunition

Each weapon contains a single rocket, of which there are three varieties. The basic rocket is the RPO-A, which has a thermobaric warhead and is designed for attacking soft targets under moderate cover. The RPO-Z is the incendiary warhead (Rus. зажигательный) designed to spread fire and ignite targets. Finally, there is a smoke-producing warhead (Rus. дымовой) offered, the RPO-D.

Specifications

Specifications provided by Jane's:^[1]

• Calibre: 93 mm
• Length:
  • Launcher: 920 mm
  • Rocket: 700 mm
• Weight:
  • Single weapon: 11 kg
  • Transit pack of two: 22 kg
• Sighting range: 600 m
• Range:
  • Minimum: 20 m
  • Maximum: 1,000 m
• Initial velocity: 125 ±5 m/s
• Warhead:
  • RPO-A: 2.1 kg thermobaric
  • RPO-Z: 2.1 kg incendiary
  • RPO-D: 2.3 kg smoke
• Operational temperature range: −50 to +50 °C
• Shelf life: 10 years

Variants

RPO PDM-A Shmel-M

A recent development is the improved RPO-M "Shmel-M" that was shown for the first time at Eurosatory 2006. This version is quite similar to the original weapon, but has a calibre of 90 mm and a weight of 8.8 kg. Its launcher is reusable. The system has better ergonomics and uses an improved rocket with better ballistics and terminal effect and with a maximum range of 1,700 m. The "Shmel-M" is also known as RPO PDM-A (Rus. Повышенной Дальности и Мощности — "enhanced range and lethality") and is produced for the local and export markets. Adopted in 24.12.2003.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}
MGK Bur (Rus. Малогабаритный Гранатомётный Комплекс — "Compact Grenade-launching System") is a 62 mm variant with reusable launch tube.^[7][8]

Service history

RPO weapons have seen use by the Soviet Army in Afghanistan and by both the Russian and the rebel forces in the First and Second Chechen Wars.^{[citation needed]}

On January 31, 2014, the minister of the Ukrainian MVS Vitaliy Zakharchenko officially requested the use of the RPO-A Shmel to use against Euromaidan protesters to restore order.^[9]

Users

•  Russia
•  Belarus
•  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
•  Kazakhstan
•  Georgia^[10]
•  India
•  Serbia
•  Sri Lanka
•  Ukraine

Former

•  USSR
•  Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

See also

• FHJ 84 — an over/under two-shot variant from China
• M202A1 FLASH — a similar weapon developed by the US Army
• List of Russian weaponry

References

External links

• Video of the Schmel in use
• RPO-A, RPO-D and RPO-Z Infantry rocket flamethrowers - Shipunov
• Video of RPO-A destroying building (MPG)
• Modern Firearms