RPO-A Shmel

RPO-A Shmel
300px RPO-Shmel and Launcher
Type	Rocket launcher
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	Late 1980s
Used by	See Operators
Wars	See Service history
Production history
Designer	KBP
Designed	1980s
Manufacturer	KBP
Produced	Late 1980s
Variants	RPO-A, RPO-Z, RPO-D, Shmel-M, MGK Bur
Specifications
Weight	11 kg
Length	Launcher: 920 mm, Rocket: 700mm
Caliber	93 mm
Muzzle velocity	125 ±5 m/s
Effective firing range	20m - 1000m (sighting range is 600m), RPO-M is 1700m (sighting range is 800m)
Sights	iron

The RPO-A Shmel (Russian: РПО-А Шмель, tr. RPO-A Bumblebee) is a man-portable rocket launcher, although it is classified as a flamethrower (Russian Реактивный Пехотный Огнемет / Reaktivnyy Pekhotnyy Ognemet, Reactive Infantry Flamethrower) 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 that 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 / Zazhigatel'nyy, Incendiary) designed to spread fire and ignite targets. Finally, there is a smoke-producing warhead (Rus. дымовой / Dymovoy, Smoke) offered, the RPO-D.

Specifications

RPO-A Shmel (fourth from the bottom) with comparable Soviet/Russian rocket launchers

Specifications provided by Jane's:

• 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 / Povyshennoy Dal'nosti i Moshchnosti — "enhanced range and lethality") and is produced for the local and export markets. Adopted in 24 December, 2003.
MGK Bur (Rus. Малогабаритный Гранатомётный Комплекс "Бур" / Malogabaritnyy Granatomotnyy Kompleks "Bur" — Compact Grenade-launching System "Auger") is a 62 mm variant with reusable launch tube. Maximum range is 950 meters, sighting (with day telescopic sights) - 650 meters. The system weighs less than 5 kg and the reusable tube is good for at least 500 rounds. As of October 2014, it has been accepted into service and its serial production has been started.

Service history

RPO weapons have seen use by the Soviet Army in Afghanistan and by both the Russian and the separatist forces in the First and Second Chechen Wars. On 9 August 2014, during the Donbass War, the Ukrainian border checkpoint of Milove was attacked using RPO flamethrowers. The main building was hit by five incendiary rockets.

Operators

Map with RPO-A operators in blue and former operators in red

Current operators

• Russia
• Belarus
• North Korea
• Kazakhstan
• Georgia
• India
• Serbia
• Sri Lanka
• Ukraine [source needed]
• Vietnam

Former operator

• 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