Infantry flamethrower with increased range and power "Shmel-M"

Infantry jet flamethrower with increased range and power RPO PDM-A "Shmel-M" is a new generation of high-precision assault weapons that allows you to solve a wide range of fire support tasks in close combat.

RPO PDM-A - modernization of the highly effective infantry rocket flamethrower "Shmel" provides:

increasing the power of warheads by 2 times;
increase in range by 1.8 times;
weight loss by 1.3 times.

In terms of effectiveness in close combat on all types of targets (except tanks), it is not inferior to a 152-mm high-explosive fragmentation artillery shell.

INTENDED:

to disable enemy manpower located both in open areas and in various types of buildings and structures;
for disabling lightly armored and automotive vehicles;
for the destruction of fortified buildings, above-ground or semi-buried structures made of stone, brick or concrete.

The flamethrower is a reactive shot of thermobaric equipment for disposable use and is equipped with a reusable launcher equipped with an optical sight.

APPLICATION

The flamethrower is easy to use, always ready for immediate use and allows firing from the standing, kneeling and prone positions.

It is highly reliable and safe to use.

Convenient for transportation, allows you to move mobile over very rough terrain. Two flamethrowers are carried by one flamethrower in a pack.

EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING TOOLS

To teach the rules of training and combat shooting from the RPO PDM-A, the 9F700-2M electronic simulator is used.

The 9F700-2M simulator allows you to simulate various combat situations in a classroom and train flamethrowers in the rules of shooting depending on its conditions.

During storage, the flamethrower is not subject to maintenance.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

Firing range, m
direct shot range at target height 3.5 m	300
sighting	800
maximum	1700
Weight, kg	8,8
Weight of warhead mixture, kg	3,0
Pack weight, kg	19
Initial speed, m/s	180
Circular dispersion at a distance of 300 m:
Vv, m	no more than 0.5
Wb, m	no more than 0.5
Caliber, mm	90
Length, mm	940
Temperature range for combat use, °C	±50
Ammunition carried by one soldier	1 pack (2 flamethrowers)

Source: Advertising spread “Infantry jet flamethrower with increased range and power” (Instrument Design Bureau, KBP, Tula).

The principle of operation and consequences of a flamethrower

Thermobaric ammunition had not previously been used in infantry weapons, so the Bumblebee can be called revolutionary in this regard. The projectile is designed as follows: in the front part there is a shaped charge that penetrates armor and walls of buildings. After hitting the target, the fuse on the capsule containing the fire mixture is triggered, forming an instantly exploding aerosol cloud, which is especially dangerous in enclosed spaces. Thus, according to the recollections of Afghan veterans, a single shot from a “Bumblebee” is capable of guaranteed destruction of all living things in a two-story house, not to mention caves and improvised mountain shelters, against which it was originally developed. The power of the cumulative part of the projectile is about 2.5 kg in TNT equivalent, which makes the RPO-A even more similar to grenade launchers and allows it to hit lightly armored vehicles.

Modifications of RPO and shells for RPO "Shmel"

To clarify, it is necessary to explain that the “Bumblebee” is a disposable weapon, and the letter after “RPO” means a type of completed projectile.

So, the first model had the following varieties:

Name	Note
RPO-A	The most common ammunition with a thermobaric (aerosol) warhead. How a flamethrower works with this ammunition is described in detail above.
RPO-Z	Incendiary ammunition, technically close to RPO "Lynx"
RPO-D	Smoke ammunition designed to reduce the visibility of enemy shooters and fire crews, as well as to poison enemy personnel in premises and similar shelters

Further work on it was carried out in two directions: on the one hand, an attempt to make the “Bumblebee” as compact and light as possible for the maneuverability of a soldier in urban combat while maintaining combat qualities, on the other hand, a more thoughtful and “complete” modification of the jet flamethrower for the sake of the sample, comprehensively superior to both RPO-A and its analogues.

MRO

A modification characterized by reduced weight, length and caliber - instead of 93 mm, a 72.5 mm projectile is used here. Structurally reminiscent of the RPG-26 grenade launcher. Like the original, it exists in the following configurations: MRO-A (aerosol or thermobaric), MRO-Z (“classic incendiary” with a liquid flammable mixture) and MRO-D (smoke projectile).

RPO-M

The optical sight deserves attention.
Also known as “Shmel-M”, PDM-A. Here the letter M does not mean the type of ammunition, but “modified”. In addition to reducing weight, the shooter can now carry three copies. A qualitatively new ammunition was developed (according to experts, the power is close to a 152-mm artillery shell) with a different composition of the aerosol mixture and a reinforced cumulative part. High-quality work has been done on the ballistic component - the new projectile has a greater range and accuracy, in addition, it is possible to use a removable sight (optical, night vision or thermal imager). The sight is removed from the container after a shot and can be installed on the next one without requiring zeroing. It has been in service with the Russian army since 2004; according to unverified information, it was used during the conflict with Georgia.

RPV-16

Ukrainian analogue, which entered production relatively recently. The design is almost identical to the RPO-A.

In addition to the flamethrower under discussion, thermobaric ammunition has been developed for the famous RPG-7.

Author of the article:

Oreshkin Maxim

Advantages and disadvantages of a flamethrower

The uniqueness of this weapon makes it the subject of frequent discussion. Supporters and opponents give the following arguments:

The advantages of the Bumblebee include exceptional lethality, firing range many times greater than that of backpack flamethrowers, versatility for performing various tasks, and effectiveness in defeating light armor;
Among the negative aspects, the following stand out: disposability, danger to the shooter (cases of detonation due to bullets or shrapnel hitting the container were observed), excessive “inhumanity” - the possibility of hitting civilians or allied soldiers when used in urban combat.

RPO Shmel

A powerful single-use infantry assault weapon with three types of shots and target effectiveness at the level of field artillery. Does not require special training.

Length ……………………………………….	920mm
Weight ……………………………………….	12kg
Firing range
maximum……………………..	1000m
minimum……………………….	25m
sighting …………………………..	600m.

"Bumblebees" for export

Unique weapons are one of the important items of Russian export, and there is nothing wrong with that. We won't sell - others will do that. It is all the more important to take advantage of competitive advantages. The world has not yet created portable systems that could surpass the Shmel flamethrower in thermobaric efficiency. Photos and videos sent by news channel correspondents from hot spots on the planet demonstrate the sad popularity of these weapons even in the most exotic countries. According to military experts, this small device can produce the same destruction as a 155-mm howitzer...

"Bumblebee": a flamethrower and its deadly flight

The flamethrower, nicknamed “Shaitan-pipe” by internationalist warriors, is similar in principle to a conventional rocket-propelled grenade launcher. The main difference is the missile it is loaded with. When the Shmel handheld flamethrower hits a target, it not only creates a blast wave and fragments, but creates a volumetric explosion based on the principle of vacuum ammunition. This quality made it an indispensable means of fighting the Mujahideen hiding in crevices or under jacked-up rock layers. The Bumblebee jet flamethrower is also suitable for destroying armored vehicles; the barothermal shock created by the explosion will incapacitate the crew of an unsealed tank or armored personnel carrier in an area of 50 square meters of open area with a total volume of guaranteed destruction of 80 cubic meters.

Preparing a grenade launcher against a tank

To use the Bumblebee flamethrower against a tank, you should carry out the following sequence of actions:

Press the axle head and turn the front handle.
Press the stopper all the way, then turn the handle to cock the trigger mechanism.
Raise the aiming bar and set the projectile range.
Set the fuse to the “OG” firing position.
Take aim by aiming the RPO at the target and aligning the aiming point and the front sight cut.
Press the trigger mechanism to fire a shot.

How to convert the Shmel hand flamethrower from combat to traveling mode:

Set the fuse to the “PR” position.
Press the stopper.
Rotate the trigger mechanism handle.
Install the engine.
Remove the aiming bar.
Press the head and turn it along the axis.

Performance characteristics (TTX RPO)

The performance characteristics of the Shmel flamethrower are listed in the table:

The bumblebee consists of four parts:

container;
ammunition;
scurvy;
engine.

Launch container RPO-A "Shmel"
The container serves as a launching device, with the help of which the Shmel weapon is aimed at the target. The container has a simple design and is a pipe made of a flange. The launch container contains:

aim;
trigger mechanism;
connection nodes;
belt.

The ammunition serves to engage targets and is an artillery shell with stabilized wings that open during flight and promote longitudinal rotation around an axis.

This is how many parts the ammunition consists of

The ammunition is similar to an artillery shell and consists of four parts:

capsule;
fire mixture;
fuse;
flammable-explosive charge tablets.

The collet serves as a fastener between the shell and the engine. The engine has a powder system and serves to transmit speed to the ammunition. The RGO Shmel engine is detached from the projectile and mounted in the barrel.

Components of the RPO Shmel engine:

propellant charge;
camera;
igniter.

In service

USSR - in 1988 adopted by the chemical forces of the Soviet Army (to replace the RPO "Lynx" flamethrower)
Russia
Ukraine
Belarus
Kazakhstan
China - In 1992, China began contacting the RPO-A Shmel missile launcher imported from Russia. After negotiations with KBP, Russia provided China with RShG-2 and RPO-A Shmel technology. In 2000, it received the name "PF-97".
Georgia
DPRK
Syria
Fiji
India
Vietnam
Armenia

It is in service with the flamethrower units of the radiation, chemical and biological defense forces, the Russian Marine Corps, the armies of the CIS countries and former Warsaw Pact participants. Also in 2012, the Russian military police were armed with it.

Caliber………………………………………………………………..	93mm
Length …………………………………………………….	920mm
Weight …………………………………………………….	12kg
Firing range
maximum…………………………………..	1000m
minimum………………………………………………………	25m
sighting……………………………………………………….	600m
Firing accuracy at a range of 200m:
Wb ……………………………………………………….	0.35m
Vv ………………………………………………………..	0.50m
Temperature range of application……………………………………………	±50°С
Firing position……………………	standing, kneeling
Ammunition carried by one fighter……………………………………..	1 pack (2 flamethrowers)