RPG-27
Soviet disposable rocket launcher
title: "RPG-27" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["anti-tank-rockets", "cold-war-anti-tank-rockets-of-the-soviet-union", "rocket-propelled-grenade-launchers-of-the-soviet-union", "bazalt-products", "military-equipment-introduced-in-the-1980s"] description: "Soviet disposable rocket launcher" topic_path: "history/military" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPG-27" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Soviet disposable rocket launcher ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox weapon"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | RPG-27 |
| image | Tula State Museum of Weapons (79-58) (cropped) RPG-27.jpg |
| image_size | 300 |
| caption | A RPG-27 rocket launcher on display at the Tula State Museum of Weapons |
| origin | Soviet Union, Russia |
| type | Disposable rocket launcher |
| is_ranged | yes |
| is_explosive | yes |
| is_artillery | yes |
| service | 1989–present |
| used_by | See Operators |
| wars | War in Donbas |
| Syrian Civil War | |
| designer | State Research and Production Enterprise, Bazalt |
| design_date | 1980s |
| manufacturer | State Research and Production Enterprise, Bazalt |
| production_date | 1989 |
| variants | RShG-1 |
| RMG | |
| weight | 7.6 kg |
| length | 1155 mm |
| caliber | 105 mm |
| action | 750 mm: RHA |
| 650 mm: RHA after ERA | |
| 1.5 m: reinforced concrete | |
| 3.7 m: earth | |
| velocity | 120 m/s |
| range | 200 m |
| sights | Iron sights |
| :: |
|name= RPG-27 | image= Tula State Museum of Weapons (79-58) (cropped) RPG-27.jpg | image_size= 300 |caption= A RPG-27 rocket launcher on display at the Tula State Museum of Weapons |origin= Soviet Union, Russia |type= Disposable rocket launcher |is_ranged=yes |is_explosive=yes |is_artillery=yes |service= 1989–present |used_by=See Operators |wars=War in Donbas Syrian Civil War |designer= State Research and Production Enterprise, Bazalt |design_date=1980s |manufacturer= State Research and Production Enterprise, Bazalt |production_date=1989 |number= |variants= RShG-1 RMG |weight= 7.6 kg |length= 1155 mm |part_length= |crew= |cartridge= |caliber= 105 mm |action= 750 mm: RHA 650 mm: RHA after ERA 1.5 m: reinforced concrete 3.7 m: earth |rate= |velocity= 120 m/s |range= 200 m |max_range= |feed= |sights= Iron sights |diameter= |filling= |filling_weight= |detonation= |yield= The RPG-27, also nicknamed as the "Tavolga" (), is a Soviet single shot disposable rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) shoulder-fired missile and rocket launcher, entering 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.
Usage
On May 1, 2015, members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) used an RPG-27 to shoot down a Mexican Air Force Eurocopter EC725 Cougar helicopter during an operation targeting cartel leader El Mencho. The rocket hit the tail, causing the helicopter to spin and crash, killing nine personnel on board.
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 m.
The round has a stated penetration ability in excess of 650 mm of rolled homogeneous armour (RHA) (after explosive reactive armour (ERA) and 1500 mm of brick or concrete and 3.7 m of earth.
Variants
RShG-1
The RShG-1 () Tavolga-1 (Таволга-1) is a variant of RPG-27 with thermobaric warhead.
The RShG-1 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 m and a larger sighting range of 600 m. The warhead contains 1.9 kg of thermobaric mixture, with an explosive yield roughly equal to that of 8 kg of TNT. Officially adopted by the Russian Government in December 2011.
RMG
The RMG () rocket launcher was developed by Bazalt in the early 2000s.
The 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 RMG 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 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
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/RPG-27_operators.png" caption="Former}}"] ::
Current operators
- Houthis
- Iran
- Jordan
- Russia
- Syria
- Transnistria
Former operators
- Soviet Union
References
References
- (2004). "Jane's international defence review: IDR". Jane's Information Group.
- . (11 August 2017). ["Ukrainian positions in Donbas shelled by deadly Russian RPG-27 Tavolga"](https://www.unian.info/war/2077676-ukrainian-positions-in-donbas-shelled-by-deadly-russian-rpg-27-tavolga.html). *[[Ukrainian Independent Information Agency]]*.
- (2008-01-18). "RPG-27 Tavolga anti-tank rocket launcher (Russian Federation), Anti-tank Weapons". Jane's Infantry Weapons.
- "La caída del helicóptero militar en Jalisco".
- (31 December 2011). "На вооружение ВС РФ принято несколько изделий ФГУП «ГНПП «Базальт»".
- (28 October 2010). "RMG: Modern Firearms".
- "RPG-27 Tavolga: Weaponsystems.net".
- "RMG multi-purpose rocket weapon".
- (2020). "Appendix: The Houthi Missile Arsenal". Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
- (2021-06-27). "Iranian Anti-Tank Weapons Are Multiplying".
- [https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1603404048421511169?t=6t8FOvOQC8nyw6wsWeLYhA&s=19 #Syria 🇸🇾: #SAA have captured large quantity of weapons and materials in a tunnel allegedly used by #ISIS militants in #DeirEzZor. Apparently a rare MILAN anti-tank guided missile, RPG-27 anti-tank weapon and a RPO-A 'Shmel' thermobaric rocket launcher (fired) can be seen.]
- "Маленькая и малобоеспособная: Еженедельник «Военно-промышленный курьер»".
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