As it became known in 2011, the military units of biological, radiation and chemical protection (RHBZ) of the Ground Forces of Russia will have jet infantry mobile flamethrowers of a completely new modification - RPO PDM-A "Shmel-M". The specified type of weapon has a significant firing range and tremendous power. "Shmel-M" is designed to destroy enemy manpower, which is located primarily in all kinds of buildings and defenses, to disable vehicles and lightly armored vehicles, to destroy fortified facilities, ground or semi-submerged structures built of stone, brick or concrete. The new flamethrower fires a jet shot from thermobaric equipment, which is located in a disposable fiberglass transport and launch container. The striking factors of the ammunition are the high-temperature field, as well as the high-pressure zone with a significant duration of exposure. The RPO PDM-A (“Shmel-M”) mobile jet infantry flamethrower of increased range and power is a completely new generation of high-precision mobile assault weapons, which allows solving a wide range of combat missions for fire support of ground forces in close combat.
In terms of the effectiveness of the impact directly in close combat on all types of selected targets, with the exception of tanks, it is not inferior to a 152-mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile.
As the commander-in-chief of the RChBZ troops, Major General Yevgeny Starkov, said, “modern RPO PDM-A“Shmel-M”flamethrowers are capable of hitting the manpower of a potential enemy in shelters, as well as lightly armored vehicles at a distance of up to 1, 7 kilometers, the aiming range is up to 800 meters.
Citing an official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian news agency Novosti reported that such flamethrowers were "used during the operation to force Tbilisi to peace." Later, this information was denied by an official representative of the RF Ministry of Defense. The statement indicated that the really prototypes of the RPO PDM-A "Shmel-M" were in service during the conflict, but their use was abandoned given the lack of need.
Payment - 1 person (probably a pack of 2 RPOs)
Guidance - diopter sight. An optical sight can be used, incl. night.
Starting device - Disposable TPK with reusable launcher.
Rocket (shot) - equipped with a starting solid propellant, fastened with ammunition. The solid propellant charge burns out completely when the projectile moves along the RPO barrel.
Caliber - 90 mm
Length - 940 mm
Flamethrower weight - 8.8 kg
Maximum firing range - 1700 m
Sighting range - 800 m
Range of a direct shot at a target with a height of 3.5 m - 300 m
Warhead types:
- RPO PDM-A - explosive fuel-air mixture (thermobaric shot / volumetric explosion ammunition), burns without detonation, the power is equivalent to a 152 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile (according to KBP). In the bow of the charge, there is a small shaped charge to destroy obstacles. Compared to RPO-A, the power of the warhead is doubled.
Mix weight - 3.2 kg
Status: Russia
- 2004 - the flamethrower was adopted by the Russian Armed Forces.
- 2011 - within the framework of the arms procurement program for 2011-2020. It is planned to supply the troops with RPO PDM-A flamethrowers.
Export - no data (2010).
