RPO "Rys" RPO Rys Retrieved 4 July 2018. (Russian: реактивный пехотный огнемёт «Рысь» (РПО «Рысь»), Rocket-propelled Infantry Flamethrower "Lynx") is a napalm rocket-propelled grenade launcher classified as a flamethrower by the Russian military. The RPO first entered service in 1975, and was intended to replace the obsolete LPO-50 flamethrower. Later it was replaced by the RPO-A Shmel.
Description The RPO Rys shares some parts with RPG-16, like the firing mechanism, however, The weapon is breech loaded. It also resembles the RPG-29, and can be mistaken for it. While classified as a flamethrower, it does not function like one in the "traditional" sense, as it does not spew out a stream of burning napalm from the barrel; instead, it fires capsuled, solid propellant, napalm filled rockets. The rockets are filled with 4 liters of napalm and have a muzzle velocity of around 125 m/s with an effective range of 190 meters. The RPO also has a bipod for stability, and a maximum sighting range of 400 meters.
Operational history
In 2017, the OSCE mission to Ukraine reported that used RPO Rys containers were seen at a Donetsk People's Republic training area, near Oleksandrivsk.
See also RPO-A Shmel: Thermobaric rocket launcher / flamethrower MGK Bur: Miniaturized thermobaric rocket launcher / flamethrower
Users
References