RPO-A Shmel

The RPO-A Shmel (Russian: - , tr. RPOA Bumblebee) is a man-portable rocket launcher, although
it is classied as a amethrower (Russian
/ 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

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

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 ring position, and launch the weapon
without assistance. After launch, the tube is discarded.
All models are externally similar.

Transit pack of two: 22 kg

Sighting range: 600 m
Range:
Minimum: 20 m
Maximum: 1,000 m

Initial velocity: 125 5 m/s

Ammunition

Warhead:
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. / Zazhigatel'nyy, Incendiary) designed to spread re and ignite targets. Finally, there is a smoke-producing warhead (Rus.
/ Dymovoy, Smoke) oered, the RPO-D.

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

4 Variants

Specications

A recent development is the improved RPO-M ShmelM that was shown for the rst 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 eect and with a maximum range of 1,700 m.
The Shmel-M is also known as RPO PDM-A (Rus.
/ Povyshennoy
Dal'nosti i Moshchnosti enhanced range and lethality) and is produced for the local and export markets.
Adopted on 24 December 2003.[2][3][4][5][6]

Specications provided by Janes:[1]

Calibre: 93 mm
Length:
Launcher: 920 mm
Rocket: 700 mm
Weight:
Single weapon: 11 kg
1

REFERENCES

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

6 Operators
6.1 Current operators

RPO PDM-A Shmel-M

Russia

Belarus

Fiji[11]

North Korea

Kazakhstan

Georgia[12]

India

Ukraine [source needed]

Vietnam

Syria [13] [14]

MGK Bur (Rus.

"" / Malogabaritnyy Granatomotnyy Kom- 6.2
pleks Bur Compact Grenade-launching System
Auger) is a 62 mm variant with reusable launch

tube.[7][8] 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.[9] 7

Former operator
USSR
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

See also

FHJ 84 an over/under two-shot variant from

China

Service history

M202A1 FLASH a similar weapon developed by

the US Army
List of Russian weaponry

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
amethrowers. The main building was hit by ve incendiary rockets.[10]

8 References
[1] Gander, Terry (2001-01-05). RPO-A Shmel rocket infantry ame-thrower. Land Forces. Janes. Archived
from the original on July 9, 2006.

[2] http://kbptula.ru/eng/atgw/shmelm.htm Archived March

27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
[3] Modern Firearms. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
[4] 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 rearms
news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical
shooting news. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
[5] Rocket Flamethrower Shmel-M ( -)".
YouTube. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
[6] " " " - -". Retrieved 26 November
2014.
[7] (English)
http://kbptula.ru/index.php?option=com_
content&view=article&id=309&Itemid=653&lang=en#
spoiler_0
[8] " IDEX-2013

-". (in Russian). Moscow: Centre
for Analysis of World Arms Trade. 18 February 2013.
Retrieved 25 March 2013.
[9] ": -
""". . Retrieved 26
November 2014.
[10] "
". Liga News. 9 August 2014.
[11] ":: Rosyjska bro dla Fidi (in Polish). altair.pl. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
[12] Armament of the Georgian Army. Georgian Army. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
[13] https://twitter.com/green_lemonnn/status/
677294880771719168
[14] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AayuHEMfz1A?t=
157

External links

10

10
10.1

TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

Text

RPO-A Shmel Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPO-A_Shmel?oldid=708829488 Contributors: Riddley, DocWatson42, Jyril, Klemen Kocjancic, Night Gyr, Joshbaumgartner, Yuriybrisk, BD2412, Nemo5576, Megapixie, Amakuha, Zwobot, Mieciu K, SmackBot, Bazonka, Trekphiler, Derekbridges, Jumping cheese, Lord Eru, Hotspur23, Tawkerbot2, Tec15, Nabokov, Aldis90, Vilje p Hjul,
Dendirrek, Lklundin, Ani td, DagosNavy, HanzoHattori, CommonsDelinker, C1010, Thomas.W, H3xx, Zaher1988, Euryalus, Victor
Lledo, Addbot, Nohomers48, Download, SpBot, AnomieBOT, Piano non troppo, Obersachsebot, Xqbot, Gira2be, Mark Schierbecker,
Surv1v4l1st, UVSMTID, Jurryaany, John of Reading, Sdafhgh, Illegitimate Barrister, ClueBot NG, Catlemur, Glevum, ArsA-92, Standardengineer, Cyberbot II, Makecat-bot, 93, G PViB, RileyBot, SkoraPobeda, Ebonelm, XANTHO GENOS, Zloy1dobryak, Zafer14ur8 and
Anonymous: 44

10.2

Images

File:2011.______046.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/2011._%

D0%94%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%8B_%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%82%
D0%B5%D0%B9_%D0%B2_%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%86%D0%BA%D0%B5_046.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Contributors: Own work Original artist: This picture has been taken by Andrew Butko. Contact e-mail: abutko@gmail.com. Do not copy
this image illegally by ignoring the terms of the -BY-SA or GNU FDL licenses, as it is not in the public domain. Other photos see here.
File:Commons-logo.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Flag_of_Belarus.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Flag_of_Belarus.svg License: Public domain
Contributors: http://www.tnpa.by/ViewFileText.php?UrlRid=52178&UrlOnd=%D1%D2%C1%20911-2008 Original artist: Zscout370
File:Flag_of_FR_Yugoslavia.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Flag_of_FR_Yugoslavia.svg License:
Public domain Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Flag_of_Fiji.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Flag_of_Fiji.svg License: CC0 Contributors: ?
Original artist: ?
File:Flag_of_Georgia.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Flag_of_Georgia.svg License: Public domain
Contributors: Own work based on File:Brdzanebuleba 31.pdf Original artist: User:SKopp
File:Flag_of_India.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg License: Public domain Contributors:
? Original artist: ?
File:Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg License: Public
domain Contributors: own code, construction sheet Original artist: -x File:Flag_of_North_Korea.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Flag_of_North_Korea.svg License:
Public domain Contributors: Own work Original artist: Zscout370
File:Flag_of_Russia.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg License: PD Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Flag_of_Syria.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Flag_of_Syria.svg License: Public domain Contributors: see below Original artist: see below
File:Flag_of_Ukraine.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Flag_of_Ukraine.svg License: Public domain
Contributors: 4512:2006 . Original artist: Government of Ukraine
File:Flag_of_Vietnam.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Flag_of_Vietnam.svg License: Public domain Contributors: http://vbqppl.moj.gov.vn/law/vi/1951_to_1960/1955/195511/195511300001 http://vbqppl.moj.gov.vn/vbpq/Lists/
Vn%20bn%20php%20lut/View_Detail.aspx?ItemID=820 Original artist: Lu Ly v li theo ngun trn
File:Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg License: Public domain Contributors: http://pravo.levonevsky.org/ Original artist:
File:RPO-A_missile_and_launcher.jpg Source:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/RPO-A_missile_and_
launcher.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: From a PDF document on https://naveodtechdiv.navsea.navy.mil/ Original artist: User
Megapixie on en.wikipedia
File:RPO-A_operators.png Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/RPO-A_operators.png License: CC BY-SA
4.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Jurryaany
File:RPO_PDM-A_Shmel-M.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/RPO_PDM-A_Shmel-M.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mike1979 Russia

10.3

Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0