Engineering:RPG-27

Short description: Soviet disposable rocket launcher

RPG-27
A RPG-27 rocket launcher on display at the Tula State Museum of Weapons
Type	Disposable rocket launcher
Place of origin	Soviet Union, Russia
Service history
In service	1989 (1989)
Used by	See Operators
Wars	War in Donbass
Production history
Designer	State Research and Production Enterprise, Bazalt
Designed	1980s
Manufacturer	State Research and Production Enterprise, Bazalt
Produced	1989
Variants	RShG-1 RMG
Specifications
Mass	7.6 kg (17 lb)
Length	1,155 mm (45.5 in)
Calibre	105 mm (4.1 in)
Action	750 mm (30 in): RHA 650 mm (26 in): RHA after ERA 1.5 m (4.9 ft): reinforced concrete 3.7 m (12 ft): earth
Muzzle velocity	120 m/s (390 ft/s)
Effective firing range	200 m (660 ft)
Sights	Iron sights

The RPG-27 is a Soviet single shot disposable rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) shoulder-fired missile and rocket launcher. It entered service with the Soviet Army in 1989.

History

The RPG-27 Tavolga ('meadow grass') was developed by the State Research and Production Enterprise, Bazalt, as a modern, anti-tank grenade launcher with a one-stage rocket, designed to defeat modern and future tanks with advanced reactive and composite armor, and fortified infantry. The RPG-27 was developed by the Soviet Union from the RPG-26.

Description

The RPG-27 shares a close resemblance to the prior RPG-26 in that it is a man-portable, disposable anti-tank grenade launcher with a single shot capacity. The RPG-27 has a larger diameter round than the RPG-26, which enables higher armour penetration. The RPG-27 fin stabilised round is a 105 mm tandem-charge high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead with a range of 200 metres (660 ft). The round has a stated penetration ability in excess of 650 millimetres (26 in) of rolled homogeneous armour (RHA) (after explosive reactive armour (ERA) and 1,500 millimetres (59 in) of brick or concrete and 3.7 metres (12 ft) of earth.

Variants

RShG-1

The RShG-1 (Реактивная Штурмовая Граната, Reaktivnaya Shturmovaya Granata, Rocket-propelled Assault Grenade) Tavolga-1 (Таволга-1) is a variant of RPG-27 with thermobaric warhead. It is intended to be used against soft skinned and lightly armored vehicles, buildings, military installations and infantry. The RShG-1 is very similar in operation to the RPG-27. It has a lethal radius of 10 metres (33 ft) and a larger sighting range of 600 metres (2,000 ft). The warhead contains 1.9 kilograms (4.2 lb) of thermobaric mixture, with an explosive yield roughly equal to that of 8 kilograms (18 lb) of TNT. Officially adopted by the Russian Government in December 2011.

RMG

RMG is a smaller, multipurpose variant of the RShG-1 that is optimized as a bunker buster and to defeat light vehicles and infantry in cover. As a result, its penetration performance against tank armor is reduced.

The launcher carries a tandem warhead. The precursor HEAT warhead penetrates armour or other obstacles (reinforced concrete, masonry, etc.). The aerosol produced by the main thermobaric warhead enters the target through the opening created by the precursor charge and combusts, producing high-explosive and incendiary effects.

The RMG (Reaktivnaya Mnogotselevaya Granata or "rocket-propelled multi-purpose grenade") rocket launcher was developed by Bazalt in the early 2000s. The launcher and round share the same designation, as is standard for disposable rocket launchers. S. Kh. Irtuganov was the lead designer for the project. It was officially adopted by the Russian Government in December 2011.

Operators

Map with RPG-27 operators in blue, former operators in red

Current operators

• Jordan
• Russia
• Transnistria

Former operators

• Soviet Union

External links

• Rosaboronexport Catalogue