RPO-A Shmel
RPO-A Shmel | |
---|---|
Production history | |
Designer | KBP |
Designed | 1984 |
Manufacturer | KBP |
Produced | Late 1980s |
Variants | See Variants |
Specifications | |
Mass | 11 kg (24 lb) |
Length | Launcher: 920 mm Rocket: 700mm |
Caliber | 93 mm |
Muzzle velocity | 125 ±5 m/s |
Effective firing range | 20 m – 1000 m (sighting range is 600 m) RPO-M is 1700 m (sighting range is 800 m) |
Sights | iron |
References | [4] |
The RPO-A Shmel[5][6] (Russian: реактивный пехотный огнемёт РПО-А «Шмель», lit. 'rocket-propelled infantry flamethrower "Bumblebee"') is a man-portable, single-use, rocket-assisted thermobaric weapon.[7][8] While its name directly translates to flamethrower (and it is classified as such in Russian military documents), the RPO-A Shmel is more accurately described as a thermobaric weapon.[9] The Shmel is designed, produced and exported by the
Description
The RPO-A is a single-shot, self-contained tube shaped launcher that operates much like the RPG-18 anti-tank launcher, 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.[8]
Designed to defeat concealed enemy firing positions, disable lightly armored vehicles and destroy enemy manpower. The aiming range with a diopter sight is 600 meters, with an OPO optical sight - 450 m, OPO-1 - up to 850 m.
Ammunition
Each weapon contains a single rocket, of which there are three varieties. The basic rocket is the RPO-A, which has a
Variants
An updated development is the improved RPO-M "Shmel-M" that was shown for the first time at
The
MGK Bur
Service history
RPO weapons have seen use by the Soviet Army in
On October 2, 2023, an attack by presumed PKK members was foiled in the Turkish capital city of Ankara.[29] One attacker was armed with an M4 Carbine and an RPO launcher.
On December 2, 2023,
Operators
Current operators
- Russia
- Armenia
- Afghanistan[31]
- Belarus The PDM-A Priz is replacing the RPO-A Shmel[32]
- China Produced under license in the name PF97
- Republic of Congo
- Cobra militia received several RPO-A in September 1997[25]
- Fiji[33]
- Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda[1]
- Sri Lanka[34]
- Georgia[35][36]
- India[37]
- Ukraine[3]
- Vietnam[38]
- Syria[39]
Former operators
- Soviet Union
- Federal Republic of Yugoslavia[citation needed]
- Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
See also
- armored personnel carrier based on the T-72tank and intended to carry a squad of soldiers armed with RPO launchers
- FHJ-84 — an over/under two-shot variant from China
- US Army
- List of Russian weaponry
- Russian NBC Protection Troops — main user.
References
- ^ a b Small Arms Survey (2015). "Waning Cohesion: The Rise and Fall of the FDLR–FOCA" (PDF). Small Arms Survey 2015: weapons and the world (PDF). Cambridge University Press. p. 203. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
- ^ a b "This "Bumblebee" Flamethrower Packs a Mean Stinger". 4 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2018-02-15. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ armamentresearch.com. Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
- ^ Gander, Terry (2001-01-05). "RPO-A Shmel rocket infantry flame-thrower". Land Forces. Jane's. Archived from the original on July 9, 2006.
- ^ "RPO-A Shmel Thermobaric Rocket Launcher | Military-Today.com". Archived from the original on 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
- ^ "Flew, exploded, burned to the ground: What can a manual "bumblebee"-the killer". Archived from the original on 2018-02-15. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
- ^ ""SHMEL" INFANTRY ROCKET-ASSISTED FLAMETHROWER". KBP Instrument Design Bureau. Archived from the original on 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
- ^ a b Sergeev, S. G. (1989). Weapon handling manual. 93mm rocket assisted infantry flamethrower (RPO-A) [In Russian]. Ministry of Defence. USSR.
- ^ Cranny-Evans, Samuel (15 August 2022). "The Inner Workings of Russia's Thermobaric Weapons". Army Technology. Verdict Media. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "KBP. Infantry Rocket-Assisted Flamethrower of Enhanced Range and Lethality". kbptula.ru. Archived from the original on March 27, 2010.
- ^ "Modern Firearms". 28 October 2010. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
- ^ David Crane (19 July 2006). "New RPO Shmel-M Infantry Rocket Flamethrower Man-Packable Thermobaric Weapon". DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
- ^ "Rocket Flamethrower Shmel-M (Огнемет Шмель-М)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 24 June 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
- ^ "ОАО "Конструкторское бюро приборостроения" - РПО ПДМ-А Шмель-М". Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
- ^ MRO-A small disposable thermbaric grenade launcher /rocket propelled flame-thrower (Russia) Archived 2016-12-24 at the Wayback Machine - Modernfirearms.net
- ^ Russian MRO-A thermobaric rocket launchers in Syria Archived 2017-07-09 at the Wayback Machine - Armamentresearch.com, 30 October 2015
- ^ Russian MRO-A Rocket Launchers in the Ukraine Archived 2016-12-24 at the Wayback Machine - SAdefensejournal.com, 1 January 2016
- ^ "KBP MGK "Bur"". Archived from the original on 2018-02-11. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
- ^ (in English) http://kbptula.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=309&Itemid=653&lang=en#spoiler_0 Archived 2013-10-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Впервые на IDEX-2013 КБП рекламирует многоцелевой ракетный комплекс дальнего действия "Корнет-ЭМ"". ЦАМТО (in Russian). Moscow: Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade. 18 February 2013. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- ^ "ТАСС: Армия и ОПК - В Туле налажен серийный выпуск гранатометов "Бур"". ТАСС. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
- ^ BUR grenade launcher Archived 2016-12-24 at the Wayback Machine - Modernfirearms.net
- ^ Small-size grenade launcher in production Archived 2016-12-24 at the Wayback Machine - Janes.com, 6 November 2014
- ^ Bur small-sized grenade launcher entered in service with Russian anti-terrorist units Archived 2016-12-24 at the Wayback Machine - Armyrecognition.com, 29 June 2016
- ^ ISBN 0199251754. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
- ^ Medetsky, Anatoly; Voitova, Yana (2005-07-21). "A Reversal Over Beslan Only Fuels Speculation". The Moscow Times. Archived from the original on 2011-09-03.
- ^ "Погранзаставу в Меловом обстреляли из огнеметов с территории РФ". Liga News. 9 August 2014. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014.
- ^ "Separatist commander Mikhail Tolstykh, 'Givi', killed in eastern Ukraine". CBCNews. Archived from the original on 20 March 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ https://www.independent.co.uk/world/turkey-suicide-bomber-terrorist-b2421817.html
- ^ "Al-Qassam Brigades deploy anti-bunker missile RPO-A for the first time | Al Bawaba". www.albawaba.net. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ISBN 978-0-415-45308-0. Archivedfrom the original on 2018-09-01. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- ^ "Belarusian Army has adopted Russian PDM-A Priz 90 mm rocket launcher | February 2019 Global Defense Security army news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2019 | Archive News year". Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
- ^ ":: Rosyjska broń dla Fidżi" (in Polish). altair.pl. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
- ISBN 978-81-8274-443-1. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ "Armament of the Georgian Army". Georgian Army. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
- ^ "KBP RPO-A (Shmel)". Archived from the original on 2018-02-03. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
- ^ Simha, Rakesh Krishnan (2016-10-11). "Russian flamethrower 'Shmel' spearheaded surgical strikes". Russia Beyond. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ "Soi sức mạnh súng phóng lựu nhiệt áp RPO-A Shmel". VOV.VN (in Vietnamese). 2019-06-11. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ Green lemon [@green_lemonnn] (December 17, 2015). "#Syria RPO-A Shmel Thermobaric rockets used by NDF/SAA in Jabal Al Nuba against rebels /JN" (Tweet) – via Twitter.