RPG/RPO Thread

RPGs are easy to carry and can be used at much shorter ranges than most guided missiles... and for ambushes or for protecting flanks and unexpected directions of enemy attacks they are light and handy and powerful.

Most soldiers can sling 2-3 RPG-22s or RPG-26s for hitting point targets out to 300m or so that their rifle fire wont effect.

Russia developing next-generation RPO-2 flamethrower

https://tass.com/defense/1360455

That is odd... does that mean they are not happy with the RPO-M?

The RPG-32 seems to be a reusable launcher for 72mm and 105mm disposable rockets in HEAT and thermobaric warhead types, which essentially means the RPG-32 can fire the equivalent of the RPG-26 (72mm) and RPG-27 (105mm) disposable rockets with a reusable sight and launcher component.

The Bur and RPO-M seem to be the same gripstock and sighting system with 62mm (BUR) and 90mm (RPO-M) rockets attached.

In addition to different calibre RPGs there are other rocket launcher types... both reusable and disposable single shot including RMG, MRO, RShG, RPO etc etc.

It appeared to me that the way forward seemed to be consolidating all the different ammo types with a few select gripstocks with optical sights to improve accuracy while retaining the variety of launched rockets for different purposes.

Now they talk about RPO-2?

I would rather see all the different rocket types and sizes all merged together with one gripstock and one optical sight... would need to be thermal and optical with a laser range finder built in with a ballistic computer included so you attach whatever rocket you have and lase the target and it generates an aiming point to improve accuracy and effective range potential... and simplify the rockets by making them munitions cannisters with no need for triggers and sights.

GarryB wrote:That is odd... does that mean they are not happy with the RPO-M?

The RPG-32 seems to be a reusable launcher for 72mm and 105mm disposable rockets in HEAT and thermobaric warhead types, which essentially means the RPG-32 can fire the equivalent of the RPG-26 (72mm) and RPG-27 (105mm) disposable rockets with a reusable sight and launcher component.

The Bur and RPO-M seem to be the same gripstock and sighting system with 62mm (BUR) and 90mm (RPO-M) rockets attached.

In addition to different calibre RPGs there are other rocket launcher types... both reusable and disposable single shot including RMG, MRO, RShG, RPO etc etc.

It appeared to me that the way forward seemed to be consolidating all the different ammo types with a few select gripstocks with optical sights to improve accuracy while retaining the variety of launched rockets for different purposes.

Now they talk about RPO-2?

I would rather see all the different rocket types and sizes all merged together with one gripstock and one optical sight... would need to be thermal and optical with a laser range finder built in with a ballistic computer included so you attach whatever rocket you have and lase the target and it generates an aiming point to improve accuracy and effective range potential... and simplify the rockets by making them munitions cannisters with no need for triggers and sights.

If you click the link you'll see that it mentions the weapon system being mounted on a UAV

Which would allow for a lot more precision I'd imagine

They have already shown disposable launchers on ground vehicles before and there was an RPG-29 launcher mounted on patrol aircraft in the past I believe too.

Some of those URAN-9 vehicles have have been shown with disposable launchers mounted which often looked like RPO-As too...

Would they need a new version for that?

GarryB wrote:They have already shown disposable launchers on ground vehicles before and there was an RPG-29 launcher mounted on patrol aircraft in the past I believe too.

Some of those URAN-9 vehicles have have been shown with disposable launchers mounted which often looked like RPO-As too...

Would they need a new version for that?

Perhaps the idea is for a custom mini-UAV just for the RPO system (and in the future other types of RPGs). It can be carried by one man, launched into the air, then controlled. The sighting systems and launcher (or two) would be built into the UAV, saving a little weight and space. This would allow the RPO man to fire from cover and from a distance essentially, and with the benefit of an electronic sighting system calculating for ballistics and wind. The UAV would only need batteries for 5 minutes worth of endurance per outing. Afterwards it can return to the owner and be reloaded.

Kind of like that UAV shotgun or what was it that they designed.

If it was airborne and could be flown closer to the target you could reduce the propellent portion but keep the power, so you could have a rocket the weight of the 62mm BUR, but with the warhead of the 90mm RPO-A...