Name RPG-29 Vampir (Update 2017-03-28)
Cal. 105mm Rocket
E-Factor Per round
Wt. With sight (iron sights only) 11.5 kg Launch tube / Canister
Eff. Range (AT rocket) 500m Point / 800m area (HE rocket) 50m-2000m
Max. Range 2000m
Type of Fire Single shot reloadable
Rate of Fire 3-4 rounds per minute
Feed Device Wt. (AT) 6.7 kg, (HE) Information not available
Basic Load: Ammo bearers packs carry three rockets.
Load Wt. UNK
Total Wt.UNK
Additional Comments:
Russian 105-mm Antitank Grenade Launcher RPG-29 and RPG-32/Hashim
Ammunition Types 105-mm grenade Typical Combat Load
HEAT (tandem) 3
HE thermobaric As needed
SYSTEM
Alternative Designations: Vampir. Both variants can be used.
Date of Introduction: Late 1980s
Proliferation: At least 5 countries and several terrorist/insurgent groups. RPG-32/Hashim is currently produced for 2 countries.
RPG-32 export negotiations are underway.
Description:
Crew: 2 (gunner and ammo bearer / asst gunner)
Caliber (tube) (mm): 105
Weight (w/o sight) (kg): 11.5 (launch tube and canister/extension)
Length (transport) (mm): 1,000 without rear section/canister
Length (firing) (mm): 1,850, with grenade canister attached
Life of Tube/barrel: 300
Rate of Fire (rd/min): 3-4 rpm
Fire From Inside Building: INA
Maximum Target Speed (km/h): INA
Emplacement/displacement time (min): <0.25
Deployment: The pintle permits the launcher to attach to a tripod ground mount or a vehicle mount. The RPG-29 can be broken down into two parts for one soldier carry (launcher unit front section, and grenade/canister rear section). It can be made ready to fire within a few seconds with quick connect couplings. A folding bipod is provided to assist aiming during prone firing.
SIGHTS
Day sight:
Name: 1P-38
Type: Optical and iron, for RPG-29 shoulder-launch
Magnification: INA
Location: Left side
Sighting Range (m): 500 for optical sight. Effective range for the iron (post) sight would probably be less
Weight (kg): .6
Night Sight:
Name: 1PN51, 1PN52 standard RPG-29 or RPG-29N
Type: II sight
Weight (kg): 2.1
AMMUNITION
Name: PG-29V (in canister/launch tube extension)
Caliber (warhead): 105
Type: Tandem HEAT (shaped charge)
Effective range (m): 500 in the AT role
800 for Multi-purpose with HE
Penetration (mm CE):
Armor: 750 + behind ERA (
E-factor=4214) , 950 + conventional (
E-factor=5760)
Other: 1,500+ concrete and brick, 2,000 brick, 3,000 earth
Length (mm): 1 850 mm assembled for launch, 1 000 mm collapsed
Complete Round Weight (kg): 6.7
Muzzle Velocity (m/s): 280
Other: TBG-29V multipurpose HE thermobaric grenade.
Blast effects are the same as the TBG-7V (previous pg).
Effective range (m): 50-2,000
RPG-27, PG-7R grenade for RPG-7V, and RPG-32/Hashim use the same tandem warhead design.
VARIANTS
RPG-29 comes in three versions. The shoulder launch version is the base version described here (see photo above). The shoulder launch RPG-29 could become a standard squad ATGL for maneuver forces; However, the launcher, even stripped down for shoulder launch, is considered to be fairly burdensome and ungainly for use with squads attempting to move quickly in close quarters and dense cover. Thus the RPG-32/Hashim (below) was developed.
RPG-29 Mounted is an improved crew-served launcher upgrade for a more limited use ground and vehicle mount (see page 6-21). For Tier 1 and Tier 2 COE OPFOR, RPG-29 Mounted is the crew weapon in Weapons Squads and other supporting tactical units.
RPG-29N: Night sight only shoulder-launch variant, used the 1PN51-2 night sight.
RPG-32/Hashim: Russian/Jordanian 105-mm ATGL with RPG-29V variant tandem HEAT and HE thermobaric grenades (pg 2-30). The launcher base is a short tube with optics and trigger assembly. Sight is a collimating (binocular rangefinder) day/II night sight. The canister sleeve fits inside the short launcher stub to serve as a launch tube extension, resulting in a very lightweight 1.2-m length shoulder launcher ranging 700 m. Penetration is 850+mm vs conventional armor (
E-factor= 4973) (650+ vs ERA) (
E-factor= 3488) , with 2 per carry case. It can launch 72.5-mm MRO-A thermobaric multi-role grenade, and perhaps other 72.5-mm grenades. Jordanian KADDB offers a vehicle remote weapons station with 7.62-mm MG, Hashim launcher, and thermal sight. An upgrade is due in 2010, to add “precision” for increased range and 80% P-hit.
NOTES
RPG-29 is a multi-purpose fire support system with both AT and grenades. Thus it serves as all-purpose small unit artillery against the gamut of targets, including vehicles, personnel, buildings, and any other direct-fire targets within range - including helicopters.
Another neat feature is its “cold” launch. In less than a second the RPG-29’s propellant expends itself within the fiberglass tube and flies towards its target without leaving a smoke trail along its trajectory.