RPG-22

The Soviet RPG-22 Netto is a one-shot disposable anti-tank rocket launcher first deployed in 1985, based on the RPG-18 rocket launcher, but firing a larger 72.5 mm fin stabilised projectile. The weapon fires an unguided projectile, can be prepared to fire in around 10 seconds, and can penetrate 400 mm of armour, 1.2 metres of brick or 1 metre of reinforced concrete.

Operation
The smoothbore container is made from two fibreglass parts; a main tube containing the rocket, and a telescoping forward extension, which slides over the barrel.

In transport mode, both ends of the barrel are closed by plastic covers, which open when the weapon is extended. The firing mechanism is manually cocked by raising the rear sight. Lowering the rear sight de-cocks the weapon if there is no target.

On firing, there is a backblast danger area behind the weapon, of at least 15 metres. The solid propellant motor completely burns out while the rocket is still in the barrel tube, accelerating it to about 133 metres per second. The weapon has simple pop-up sights graduated to ranges of 50, 150 and 250 metres.

To keep training costs down, a reusable RPG-22 is available that fires a 30 mm subcalibre projectile, weighing 350g, to operational ranges. Handling is identical to that of the full calibre version, with the exception of the discharge noise and backblast.

Real IRA use
On the evening of 20 September 2000, dissident Irish Republican group the Real IRA attacked the MI6 Building in London (the headquarters of the British Secret Intelligence Service) with a single RPG-22 round, causing superficial damage - see 2000 MI6 attack. The rocket used in London was made in Russia; a rocket found in a Real IRA cache near Dungannon came from Bulgaria. A weapons cache destined for the Real IRA, seized in Croatia in August 2000, contained a number of RPG-22s. Prices range from £150 to £220 per launcher.

Current operators

 * 🇷🇺 – Russian Ground Forces
 * 🇧🇬 – Bulgarian Land Forces, local production at VMZ Sopot.
 * 🇨🇴 – Colombian National Army
 * – Croatian Army
 * – Georgian Land Forces
 * 🇮🇳 – Indian Army
 * 🇮🇶 Iraq: Iraqi insurgents
 * 🇲🇩 Moldova – Moldovan Ground Forces
 * 🇵🇪 – Peruvian Army
 * Transnistria
 * 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan – Turkmenistan Ground Forces
 * 🇺🇦 – Ukrainian Ground Forces, Ukrainian National Guard.
 * 🇺🇦 – Ukrainian Ground Forces, Ukrainian National Guard.

Former operators

 * Soviet Union, passed on to successor states
 * Real Irish Republican Army

Reference in print

 * Jones, Richard. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2005–06. Coulsdon: Jane's, 2005. ISBN 0-7106-2694-0.