experience of regional conflicts of the last decades has shown that successful warfare infantry rifle familiar enough funds, they require a fundamentally new class of hand-held weapons.Already during the Second World War army of some countries of the world have received hand-held rocket launchers, successfully perform the function of light artillery, such as the fight against the enemy armor and fire support for the offensive in the assault fortified points.Despite the shortcomings of the first samples, once they have proved their effectiveness.
problems of modern infantry
Enhancing the role of every soldier in the street fighting and the ability to inflict maximum damage to the enemy is provided by the presence in its arsenal of easy but very powerful weapons of great destructive power.The Afghan war has revealed the problems faced by combat troops during active operations in mountainous terrain.Any complex terrain with lots of folds, ruins, houses, industrial buildings or specially constructed defense facilities with powerful protection pose serious challenges to advance the advancing troops.To overcome Tula gunsmiths in the late eighties was created thermobaric grenade "Bumblebee".
flamethrower backpack type previously used for the suppression of the fortified points, it does not fully match the requirements of the modern assault weapon.
Flamethrower classical type and its disadvantages
normal flamethrower is arranged simply.On the back of a fighter is forced to wear a volume tank with a gas mixture, in his hands the means of direct destruction, is something like a hose with an igniter, the two main components are connected by a hose.The advantage of this weapon is its simplicity, a large area of possible defeat and a strong psychological effect produced on the defensive, but also disadvantages missing.The first step with a heavy tank behind is not very convenient.Second, the distance is not great defeat, and how to apply whatever significant damage to the enemy, you need to find him almost back to back, and this is sometimes very difficult.The impressive dimensions of the device make it difficult to covert approach.Third, this weapon is dangerous not only for the enemy, but also for the flamethrower, as any damage to the tank or hose will cause spontaneous ignition of combustible mixture and as a result, a terrible and painful death.From these structural defects spared "Bumblebee".
Flamethrower new type
In 1984, Soviet weapons designers have received an order from the army to the new means of fire destruction of manpower and equipment of the enemy.Range of action should not be less than half a kilometer.The power required is large, with the ability to suppress the well-fortified targets.The device must be made easy, so that the soldiers could not with him just to walk and run and climb mountains.Almost it needed a hand gun, weighing tens of kilograms.
Run a technical task was difficult.But Tula gunsmiths of SSPE "Basalt" worked and created "Bumblebee".Flame Thrower turned out well.Consider its main characteristics.
«Bumblebee": flame thrower and his fatal flight
Flamethrower, called soldiers-internationalists "Satan-pipe" in its basic design is similar to a conventional rocket launcher.The main difference is in the rockets, which he is charged.When hitting the target manual flamethrower "bumblebee" not only forms a blast wave and fragments, and creates a volume explosion on the principle of vacuum ammunition.This quality has made it an indispensable tool in the fight with the Mujahideen, hiding in crevices or under the jacked rock layers.To destroy armored jet flame thrower "Bumblebee" is also suitable, barothermal kick created in the explosion will damage the crew unpressurized tank or armored personnel carrier in the area of 50 square meters of outdoor space with a total volume of guaranteed destruction of 80 cubic meters.
Tactical and technical data RPO-A "Bumblebee»
Flamethrower is most effective at a distance of 400 meters, but the sighting can shoot and six hundred."Bumblebee" is light and compact, it weighs 11 kg, that weapons such destructive power quite a bit, and a cylindrical body length of 92 cm and a diameter of decimeter with a protruding pistol grip and sight.The caliber rocket projectile - 93 mm.Charge 2 kg 100 g creates a volumetric explosion, which causes its high efficiency.
new "Bumblebee" RPO PDM-A-
No matter how good "Bumblebee" and Tula experts have been able to improve it.Next modification is additional index-RPO PDM-A (VSD means "extended range and capacity").Now he has a 1.7 km at the sighting effective distance of 800 m. The weight of the charge is also increased to 6 kg, and the flamethrower became easier, it weighs 8 kg 800g.He has another feature, the new flame-thrower "Bumblebee-M" is equipped with a removable control unit with an optical sight of night vision.
weight reduction achieved through the use of composite materials, in particular, the launch tube is made of heavy-duty fiberglass.To protect the equipment from external influences and mechanical damage applied rubber caps that flies at its output.Initiation missiles made by electronic ignition system.Another design feature is the integration of solid propellant motor with battery compartment.
«Bumblebee" on the export
unique weapons - one of the most important articles of the Russian export, and there is nothing wrong with that.We will not sell - it will make others.It is more important to enjoy competitive advantages.The world is not created by portable systems, which are thermobaric efficiency could surpass flame thrower "Bumblebee".Photos and videos sent by correspondents of the news channels of the hot spots of the planet, demonstrates the sad popularity of these weapons, even in the most exotic countries.According to military experts, this little device can produce the same destruction as the 155-millimeter howitzer ...
