Russia's RPG-30 In Ukraine

[@TheArmourersBench]

Thanks for watching, check out the accompanying article for this video at - armourersbench.com/2022/10/23/rpg-30-russias-dual-tube-rocket-launcher/ If you enjoy the videos please consider supporting TAB via - www.patreon.com/thearmourersbench thanks! - Matt

[@TheArmourersBench]

Updates/Corrections: 24/10/22 - RShG-1 not RPG-30 at 2:14. 25/10/22 - To clarify the precursor decoy rocket is not intended to defeat or detonate the ERA, the main rocket's tandem warhead charge is designed for this task. While the precursor might cause some limited kinetic damage to ERA its main task is to trigger the targets APS.

[@davidjames1063]

The decoy rocket is NOT inert !

[@TheArmourersBench]

Isn't it?

[@davidjames1063]

@@TheArmourersBench Nope. Watch the Sales Pitch. Decoy rocket HAS it's own charge.

[@TheArmourersBench]

I will double check, another video on this coming in the future anyway.

[@gregsutton2400]

the tandem charge on the main projectile is to defeat reactive armour, the lead projectile is for active defense systems.

[@antimatter4733]

They could both be to defeat ERA, the reason being is that heavy ERA is still effective against tandem charge HEAT because the required spacing between the tandem and main charge is more than what is practical, meaning the ERA is still active by the time the main charge hits.

[@titter3648]

@@antimatter4733 No they can not. Because there is no way that the precursor round will hit the same ERA tile as the main warhead. And that is also why the precursor round does not have any explosive because it is only intended for APS systems.

[@antimatter4733]

@@titter3648 it's definitely possible the precursor hits the same tile, or the detonation of the ERA will damage surrounding tiles like happens with lots of earlier types of ERA. Also how do you know the precursor doesn't have any type of explosive?

[@LoydUA]

Active defense system - how many western tanks or apc have it? less than 1%. Russia? 0.01%. This is just another "no analogues".

[@the.606]

Well Not All Active Protection System when the Active Protection System have multiple launchers RPG-30 is useless to Active protection system, The Trophy Active Protection System is immune to RPG-30 since the SHAPE of Precusor Charge are not great, so Trophy APS will still target the Main Charge

[@gussie88bunny]

There's confusion with some commenters about what the RPG-30 is trying to do. The first small inert projectile causes Active Protection Systems (APS) to deploy, which currently are small counter-bombs fired automatically by the system at the incoming 'threat' .... they currently take a couple of seconds to reset. Therefore, the APS wastes itself on the first projectile, which only has to be vaguely on target. The second main tandem-warhead projectile can't be intercepted in time and gets to hit the tank. Its tandem mini warhead on the front of the main projectile will probably cause the explosive reactive armour (ERA) panel struck to prematurely detonate, due to the stand-off distance in front of the main charge. This then clears the way for the main warhead to hit the now-bare section of the tank and penetrate the armour. If, like most Western tanks there's no ERA, the first warhead still helps penetration by weakening the armour for the main charge. The two separate projectiles fired one after the other don't have to hit the same spot. The second main projectile has two tandem warheads, a baby one, and a phat daddy one. These three elements work together, one after the other to overcome the tank's defences. It's an imperfect (heavy, requires steady aiming) but pragmatically simple solution to the very effective measures being fielded by the latest tanks. Powerful tandem warheads are shown in modern warfare to be able to defeat ERA equipped tanks. The very new problem for tank hunters is APS. The RPG-30 is literally the first mass-produced cheap man-portable weapon that's come up with a way of overcoming this new defensive measure. The rocks paper scissors of armoured warfare continues to evolve.

[@fanta4897]

Yes, but I imagine that it also throws off the aim before the second rocket leaves the launcher. Unless you mount that thing, it will not be as accurate as it could and should be. But if you fire it from close distances it's still effective weapon.

[@gussie88bunny]

@@fanta4897 yes, agree. As seen in the training videos in the Armourer's presentation, only one of the 3 shooters holds it steady through the shot. This can be remediated to some extent via training and good technique, but it will always be a deficit of the RPG-30. Doesn't change the fact that it's literally the only disposable man-portable launcher that to-date is trying to address the challenge presented by active protection systems.

[@fanta4897]

@@gussie88bunny I'm trying to think of how it could be improved without making it more complicated, I managed to come up with two solutions: either don't have the rockets in separate tubes, but have them in the same tube, that way, the recoil should theoretically make the difference smaller. But this would bring few other problems. Another option that I thought of would be to have the rockets fire at exactly the same time, but the decoy rocket would be faster (ideally faster only for some time so that it wouldn't reach the tank so soon that the active system would manage to react in time), that way recoil wouldn't influence the aim and the effect should still be the same from a certain distance (the decoy rocket would need some time before it would reach enough distance away from the actual rocket, but if the rocket has some minimum arming distance anyway then I think it wouldn't be that much of a problem). I think the second one would be the best option.

[@gussie88bunny]

@@fanta4897 Hah, that's amazing, I was thinking exactly the same because of our previous conversation. If they were fired at the same time, but the decoy sped away initially then slowed to the same speed, the effect would be the same, but the aiming problem from the decoy's recoil would be solved. Maybe a rocket-assist for the decoy that burns for a fraction of a second, just enough to kick it ahead of the main projectile? Alternatively, make the main projectile ballistically inefficient via a drogue that deploys for a fraction of a second, then speed it back up with a rocket that fires, blasts the drogue away and puts it back to it's proper velocity. This all adds weight. I wonder if the Russian engineers tested all these ideas when designing the RPG-30, but ended up concluding it wasn't worth the weight and cost? Just accept reduced accuracy .... unless the soldiers are trained properly to hold steady through the shot.

[@fanta4897]

@@gussie88bunny I really doubt that those soldiers have proper training for this specific thing considering their training in general so far seems relatively poor apart from the best units. At any rate, I think that they designed it, didn't test it thoroughly enough in the field, and sent it to production. It still does the job that's required of it, so that's why they could get away with it, but it's such a mistake that could be easily fixed and that impacts the weapons' performance so much that I think that they just didn't test it thoroughly enough. Who knows, maybe we'll see updated version that will address this.

[@abdal.m4029]

Lots of interest RPG variants, really interesting stuff hope to see more of them in this channel

[@TheArmourersBench]

We've already covered a few but I'll definitely be doing more! Thanks for watching.

[@СергейСотник-г1й]

самым результативным гранатомётов оказался Нлав. NLAW

[@hiredmurderer6228]

Its not the same since the RPG-7. No other boom-boom will have such a good shape in both launcher and ammo.

[@ashleyoasis7948]

Exactly it’s sexy and scary to always have a sharp point sticking out

[@BluntEversmoke]

​@@olisk-jy9rz There is believed to be an Iranian design where the tube is scaled up to 90 millimetres caliber. Like the Carl Gustaf. Still, it seems to be intended for over-caliber warheads, like the RPG-7.

[@TheBic4]

It’s weird that the rpg-29 has yet to make an appearance in this war. I know they didn’t widely adopt it but you’d still think it would pop up by now.

[@TheArmourersBench]

It is. And the 32.

[@moritamikamikara3879]

@@TheArmourersBench Clips pls

[@obsidianjane4413]

@@moritamikamikara3879 You know how to use Google right? A search for "RPG 29 in Ukraine" turned up a dozen pics.

[@TheBic4]

@@obsidianjane4413 yes i do, clearly you are blind or you havent even done that

[@obsidianjane4413]

@@TheBic4 I guess your google-fu is weak. Probably not the only thing...

[@adamchurvis1]

I knew exactly what that skinnier tube was for the moment you mentioned it was designed to thwart reactive armor. I sure would love to see cutaways of both warheads.

[@TheArmourersBench]

There's one half decent cutaway photo of them in the tubes but not the warheads themselves sadly! Very little info on these, even from Russian sources. Thanks for watching!

[@obsidianjane4413]

The secondary does not defeat ERA, its a decoy to make active protection systems like (probably very specifically ) Trophy, activate prematurely. Its unlikely that these rockets have the kind of accuracy needed to hit the exact same ERA tile needed to defeat the protection. The main rocket's very RPG-29-esque tandem charge is what defeats the ERA.

[@largelarry437]

The main charge looks extremely simmilar to the Pg7vr round and there's many cutaways of them, so I'd look that up. 👍

[@adamchurvis1]

@@obsidianjane4413 You and I are saying the exact same thing through different words. The Reactive Armor is triggered by the initial small projectile's relatively small charge (if any), giving the main shaped charge a better chance of not being thwarted by the explosion of the reactive armor, which by that time the disruptive blast from it would have been mostly neutralized.

[@VyarkX]

@@adamchurvis1 no no he is saying that the smaller warhead is likely used to distract active protection systems like trophy, expending the aps so the second main warhead can get through. I also find it unlikely that the two warheads are accurate enough to strike the same era tile.

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@anselmdanker9519]

Very interesting presentation thanks for sharing. Cheers.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Thanks for watching!

[@thejackal9834]

I may be wrong here but it appears that the precursor missiles recoil can actually fuck up the centre of aim for the main missile.

[@Rosen545]

Great video! But the soldier at 2:10 is posing with a RShG-1, not a RPG-30.

[@TheArmourersBench]

So he is, well spotted, that's because those two photos were posted together and I had them in the same folder together! I guess that's a bonus RShG-1 haha.

[@masnovitachief]

I am very impressed by how little recoil it has 4:24

[@FacitOmniaVoluntas.]

That’s the same for basically every rocket launcher. They all have counterweights and are recoilless. This is the simplest technology ever. Literally every country and every ATGM and ATM has this.

[@gussie88bunny]

The final segment shows engagements to about 200 metres maybe? The flight time is 2.5 seconds, or thereabouts. So the muzzle velocity, assuming it's not rocket assisted in flight would be about 150-200m/s perhaps? Slowing over distance. Typical pragmatically clever Russian design, but definitely best used against staionary or very slowly moving targets at short range. Sort of like a 21st century Russian take on the WW2 German panzerfaust. Thank you for this video, nicely presented.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Thank you, and thanks for watching.

[@BluntEversmoke]

Well, if you have come close enough to an enemy tank for it to be in firing range for that thing - chances are thw tank isn't moving fast as it is in an urban environment dictating careful movement on tht tank's side.

[@timbrwolf1121]

This is something that makes sense in theory, but in practice, I doubt the precursor works as intended. Unless you are firing from a mounted position at a stationary target. There is no way you would ever be able to land both rounds in the same spot.

[@ninoslavtrifunovic7038]

You really don' have a clue what it's all about, do you?

[@timbrwolf1121]

@@ninoslavtrifunovic7038 If you pull the trigger and it fires 2 shots. Those two shots will land in the same spot around 1% of the time. You can not fire this weapon accurately. Worse still. You cant even fire the main charge accurately. You pull the trigger and then wait for the main charge to fire. Anyone who has ever pulled a trigger on any firearm can tell you that aiming this would be impossible.

[@Rrgr5]

I was just thinking that, actually, look at the video of the guy firing it, he moved before the second shot, but, the ERA isn't that small, so they could probably had a different POA if the main rocket is accurate enough to exploit the general area of the destroyed ERA, and that is pretty much possible, but it makes more sense against active protection, since it won't be able to take out the second one.

[@timbrwolf1121]

@@Rrgr5 Against APS, yeah I could see it being marginally effective, but with the way APS works there would still be a debris field in front of the second warhead. Against ERA though. Yeah no chance. You would be better off with two separate launchers

[@zano187]

1:16 you don't need to, the main rocket is already a tandom heat warhead, which curcomvents Era, the only question is if the small rocket is also heat

[@Meczyk]

So...the big "secret" is using it as a AT double barreled weapon, firing two projectiles instead of one. Jeeez... :D

[@scratchy996]

The newer APS systems were already programmed to recognize these things, since they first appeared.

[@ГеоргийМурзич]

@@scratchy996 if both have the same RCS and speed how would the APS recognise what's the decoy and what is not?

[@Pilotmario]

@@ГеоргийМурзич Easy. You shoot both of them down just to be sure.

[@ГеоргийМурзич]

@@Pilotmario Okay, but will the reaction time allow to intercept both? Anyway, decoying aps is a cheaper way to deplete it than launching only rockets at it

[@Bialy_1]

@@ГеоргийМурзич from size and the fact that two projectiles are flying? This whole system is based on idea that enemmy will be as incopetent as Russians are... So generaly "Kiev in two days" all over again...

[@mr.c.3760]

4:04 that sweet zenitCo stock! Maybe u should do a vid on the zenit gear being used by both sides or an ak12 vs ak74 w/zenit? Up2u, be interesting

[@TheArmourersBench]

Yeah, absolutely could do one on it. It's everywhere.

[@mr.c.3760]

@@TheArmourersBench thanks man, that'd be 👌

[@fibber2991]

I remember a photo of a destroyed Ukrainian btr4 from the early months of the war, supposedly hit by rpg30 after it tried to ambush a Russian convoy

[@theenchiladakid1866]

The USSR convoy was still destroyed

[@justuskid9577]

No WE win ​@@theenchiladakid1866

[@sector76]

I doubt the precursor round is there to defeat ERA, it's there to overcome any APS. But if you are using it against a target that lacks APS then the precursor does not add anything, it just makes it bulkier to carry and harder to shoot. So the effect against ERA sounds more like a sales pitch in a world where APS is still a very rare sight..

[@TheArmourersBench]

Quite possibly. Especially given the precursor is said to be inert so they're relying on a kinetic submunition to detonate era blocks.

[@DerDrecksack87]

Well, when you fight a war, you should be already planing for the next. If anything, the conflict in ukraine has shown to all militaries that armored vehicles can be disabled way too easy in a high intensity conflict involving more technologically advanced foes, so i bet that APS will be one of the first upgrades as soon as a new upgrade package is implemented in any major army world wide. So this AT system might be ahead of its time and actual intended use, but not by much and it might be one of few cheap & highly mass produceable AT weapons on the international market for a long time, to combat those upcoming APS systems.

[@wolimoli]

@@DerDrecksack87 the way most APS works though i doubt it would really be effective esp considering the recoil from the decoy, APS basically fires a large shotgun blast towards projectile & with two different firing arcs the rpg would still get hit by the blast i believe

[@titter3648]

Exactly my thoughts. There is no way the precursor round will hit the exact same ERA tile as the main warhead. And the precursor round being inert also underlines the fact that it is for APS systems only.

[@Decicamo]

do you even know what ERA is and how easy it is to activate

[@Jkim890]

In terms of the amount of time, money, and effort spent to implement effective APS’s, this RPG 30 system is a rather crudely ingenious counter that the Russians came up with for what I imagine is much less in every one of those categories. Still, you can only go so far with those kind of limitations (even if, let’s say, those weapon systems don’t end up malfunctioning more often than not). The biggest one that comes to mind is the lack of accuracy and therefore range resulting from the recoil of the first shot. Watching the footage of it being fired, there is a small amount of recoil coming from the decoy that causes some muzzle rise. While it may look like the muzzle settles back in time for the main round to fire again, any miniscule drift from the initial aiming point can result in several to many feet of inaccuracy downrange. This effectively could “half” the size of the effective target. If this had been a NATO developed system, I imagine there would be much more investment into addressing this problem by creating a guided munition for the tandem warhead, akin to a missile rather than a rocket. Not completely dismissing this to be a possibility with the RPG 30, but as of now there hasn’t been any evidence indicating as such.

[@randombosniak8986]

Russian Kornet ATGM from some vehicles can be launched in short sequence of 2 missiles during which both missiles ride same laser beam, Iran also displayed their version of Kornet & variants of which include launcher with 2 missile slots and remote controled launcher with 2 missile slots, both for same application, those are some other solutions that come to mind.

[@istoppedcaring6209]

makes sense, but making it more advanced would in many ways defeat the purpose here

[@jedispartancoolman]

Same issue as the an94

[@BraindeadCRY]

I was actually quite impressed by the RPG 30 design for this same reason. Its a somewhat crude and cheap counter to a very sophisticated and expensive defensive system. Individual system or unit performance wins or loses battles but economics decides the outcome of entire wars, so having relatively cheap systems able to defeat far more expensive ones is crucial. Would be interested to see how effective (or not) this proves against APS and reactive armor.

[@stevebuckley7788]

yes I'm sure that if NATO had thought of this idea they would have made a far more expensive and unreliable product that is still undergoing assessment 10 years after the delivery of the prototype same as everything else in our armory at the moment. Ultimately it's a simple weapon that costs less than an AT-4 that can kill an Abrams tank at 100 meters.

[@lightbenderga2017]

Up until about 6 minutes ago I didn’t know this thing existed. I wonder if it’s actually effective against APS.

[@XxharasimekplxX]

effective range is 200 meters, so it is not effective at all, outside urban envoriments.

[@Bialy_1]

@@XxharasimekplxX Russian are claiming that it is effective up to 200m so i would say do not try to use it for targets that are more than 100m awey or have APS that was not made in Russia...

[@tranquoccuong890-its-orge]

@@XxharasimekplxX seems like russia expects to go double-down on urban environment with something that short-range

[@Bigman-fh1fz]

@@Bialy_1 rpg 7s are kings still. Shouldn’t underestimate it and others like it

[@trololoev]

@@tranquoccuong890-its-orge meanwhile same people that blame RPG-30 for short range still praise NLAW with same range. double standards.

[@benvandermerwe4934]

Thanks for the great footage and detailed analysis. 👏🏻

[@LordOceanus]

A clever layout but I feel like there could be issues with the user flinching in-between the first tube firing and the second and thus throwing off their aim.

[@petersmulders8058]

Rpg's have no recoil

[@LordOceanus]

@@petersmulders8058 First of all they do have a marginal amount of recoil caused energy transfer from the projectile to the barrel through friction. IE the launcher tube pulls slightly forwards. and second reoil is not required for a flinch, any sudden noise, light, or motion will do

[@supa3ek]

@@petersmulders8058 ???????? you haven't fired an rpg then, or even looked at this clip of people firing one !!!

[@selectionn]

@@petersmulders8058 you can literally see the recoil in this video when they fire it

[@lepmuhangpa]

Damn, how do they keep coming up with so many RPG versions?

[@Zefenaro]

If RPG was so good why there's no RPG-2? And then russians decided to make 32 RPGs

[@lepmuhangpa]

@@Zefenaro 😂 The newer models keep on coming.

[@iberiksoderblom]

It clearly has a very distinct sound when fired.

[@Fruitkek]

im curious about how recoil from the smaller inert projectile impacts the accuracy of the main shot, i suspect it would make it useless at longer ranges.

[@trololoev]

+- 30 sm didn't do shit. this thing wotk on 200 meters, at this distance it doesn't matter.

[@venonat80]

Curious how well a person keeps on target after the decoy shot goes out before the warhead does. Recoils looks light from the video but even a slight recoil or jolt will throw your aim off.

[@jokjrem4866]

I noticed this too, one of the guys firing at the end, gets a fair bit of recoil from the decoy shot, must throw his aim of by atleast a cm in barrelmovement, and thats a lot!

[@schmip]

very informative! thank you.

[@Оби-Ван-е9н]

This grenade launcher is capable of deceiving active defense Trophy.

[@cdgncgn]

they worked against merkavas just fine.

[@helmhamburgerhand]

Depending on how modern the ERA is, im guessing that "decoy" round would do next to nothing to activate an explosive panel. You can hammer a lot of those panel and they wont go off.

[@trololoev]

decoy shouldn't activate, for this purpose double charge on main rocket is made.

[@sergeig685]

decoy is to engage the APS, silly. The ERA is taken care of the by tandem warhead of the main projectile

[@norbertblackrain2379]

It was for sure a useful topic to cover 😀

[@markmitchell457]

That was interesting. Thanks.

[@Seth9809]

I wish this video had a little chart comparing the range and penetration to the RPG-18, AT-4, or LAW systems. Also, maybe the names of some tanks it could penetrate. This would allow people to actually understand the capability of what this thing can do.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Will bear that in mind for future videos. That was the plan for a video overview of all shoulder-fired AT weapons in use. Big project!

[@Halfapint01]

There's a reason no "real" footage is available. I'm sure this is northing more than another smoke screen by Ruzzia. Remember before invading Ukraine, they were thought to be the second strongest army in the world.... (rofl) This RPG has little coverage because it doesnt work. Sure in "training" it hits every single time as long as the shooter doesnt move when the recoil of the "decoy" fires, and as long as they stay stable that the main charge actually follows up and hits the same spot (hint: it doesnt). I respect the blatent boot licking to Ruzzia, I wanted to move there, but this as shown they are the worst of the worst, maybe when partisans take the "winter palace" I'll look back to moving there. but while putin is alive, I take joy in seeing the tens of thousands of russian dead,.

[@Halfapint01]

@Mirage_Panzer 🤣🤣🤣 what you smoking? You support the Nazi’s in Russia? Russia is like the GOP in the US, whatever they accuse the other side of, they are guilty of. But hey. You do you boo!

[@Halfapint01]

@Mirage_Panzer oh honey, I see what you are. One, you didn’t bring up a point, this trying to play “centrist” It’s ok baby, I get it. Anywho. Go sea lion somewhere else. You’re a bad troll. And LOL! “NPC” used unironically… 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Incel says what?

[@Halfapint01]

@Mirage_Panzer oh triggered lil incel. It’s ok, I’ve literally laughed my ass off, you’ve also entertained a few mates as well. To work so hard at trying to fit reich wing tropes into your responses, with a name of “panzer” it’s ok. We see you, we know you’ve never been laid. And we will continue to laugh at you. While I’m banging my wife in about 15 minutes, you can sit there and imagine what it’s like while your tiny little hands try to beat one out of your tiny meat. Just imagine what a real man does. 🤣🤣🤣

[@JusticeLogic819]

Good vid Mate!

[@Eulemunin]

That’s a unique audio signature.

[@jcnikoley]

The precursor rocket is to engage active defense systems, leaving a window of vulnerability for the main rocket. The tandem charge of the main rocket defeats ERA by detonating two warheads in tandem, the first activates the ERA, the second larger charge then has a free path to defeat the armor similar to the PG-7VR rocket fired by the RPG-7. This is all easy to find info.

[@schmiddy8433]

I wonder how practically the main round would actually hit the same spot. I have a feeling in many cases it would end up activating additional ERA plates.

[@Blorb137]

The main warhead also has a tandem charge the secondary charge is mostly to disrupt aps

[@trololoev]

it don't need to hit same spot

[@andreyche193]

That "reset" time for an active armor that the weapon uses has to be there to prevent an active armor explosion causing something like a chain reaction. That down time is not insignificant and it is a part of design: just to make sure that all of tank's plates do not go off one after another because of a single projectile! In short: I do not think your feeling is correct. I guess they have made enough testing and adjustment to iron any issues out: it is not exactly a rocket science after all!

[@MostlyPennyCat]

What's the point of the decoy projectile when you already have an anti-era tandem Warhead in the tube?

[@atomato5378]

It's weird they'd go through the expensive effort of making the dope little decoy against ERA but to then cheap out and give it terrible iron sights is a weird one to me. Are simple optics really that cost prohibitive? I mean I've heard so many reports on how the NLAWs optics turn it to a powerhouse it just seems weird to cheap out there ya know.

[@SteelheadCrusher]

The more technology you add to a weapon the more unreliable it becomes. Then there's the cost issue. Advanced optics will give a marginal advantage at a significant increase in price. When a soldier's life is on the line they will always take reliability over anything else.

[@baneofbanes]

@@SteelheadCrusher bullshit. Modern day optics are extremely reliable and increase the combat effectiveness of modern soldiers incredibly. There’s a reason they’re standard in Jaír Western frontline units, who have way more combat experience and are way more concerned with keeping their soldiers alive than the Russians are. Russia just has a backwards military and MIC.

[@BluntEversmoke]

Optics on a 200 meters anti tank design? Naaaaah.

[@4ffff2ee]

0:28 'fin and spin stabilised'? this must be wrong, right?

[@doorhinge2039]

The Merkava is the first thing that came to mind when I watched this video. Abrams did not have APS until very recently. So its' strange they would make this weapons. If Russia starts exporting this sh!t to HAMAS, IDF will have problems.

[@anonymuz796]

Some Abramses have "Quick Kill" system and Israeli "Trophy".

[@BIG-DIPPER-56]

Very good - Thanks ! ! ! 🙂😎👍

[@fredhercmaricaubang1883]

Y'know, if you look closely, the RPG-30 is a somewhat upsized version of the British LAW-80. I mean, considering that the LAW-80 also has a .50 cal. spotting round but if you upsize that along with the primary warhead, the end result is the RPG-30! Or is it just me who observed this?

[@andreinarangel6227]

If you look closely, the British LAW-80 is a somewhat upsized version of the American LAW-60! Or is it just me who observed this?

[@berryreading4809]

I read both of these comments! Or is it just me who observed this?

[@obsidianjane4413]

APSs have the ability to differentiate small arms from actual threats. Otherwise it could be defeated by just spraying MG fire. The LAW 80 used a 9mm round that matches the ballistics of the rocket. But its very unlikey to fool an APS the same way a larger... smaller rocket theoretically can.

[@berryreading4809]

@@obsidianjane4413 Great points, but you were supposed to add "Or is it just me who observed this?" Please edit your comment sir 😂👍

[@obsidianjane4413]

@@berryreading4809 You presume much.

[@paulfromwv]

Clever way to deal with active protection system.

[@chriskortan1530]

At 2:56 one of the RPGs appears to be a different variant? It has a much larger precursor tube.

[@TheArmourersBench]

That's just another type of AT weapon next to two RPG-30s.

[@av7610]

I’m curious as to it’s accuracy for a moving target. I don’t think the two warheads will hit the same target area to be effective against ERA. The two rounds could prove devastating against non armored targets.

[@TheArmourersBench]

The tandem warhead of the main rocket is what primarily deals with the ERA while the precursor may so some light kinetic damage to the ERA its really just there to trigger the APS. Thanks for watching!

[@michakasprzak6869]

Not gonna lie, it looks like a solid Pancerfaust of modern times. I googled these can cost around $2000-3000. This is a 10kg, mobile, 1-man weapon that can go through APS AND ERA at 200m, it's not bad. If the range is true, it's probably its biggest downside. And yeah, the lack of NVG/Thermal scope or an option to use one, but let's be real, that's not Javelin, you're supposed to carry it around in case your squad gets surprised by enemy heavy armor, to stockpile a bunch of them and protect an outer part of a city or something, not to specifically hunt down tanks at 1km range.

[@dlmsarge8329]

Excellent report! Keep up the great work!!

[@TheArmourersBench]

Thank you, will definitely do so as long as people are still interested!

[@SK-ik9mc]

Idk what you say, 650mm after ERA is insane for a 10kg AT system

[@OldUncleDan]

Never knew this existed seems cool and effective like a better AT4

[@P4hko]

Seems like a heavier more powerful but shorter range AT4, but clearly made for different targets.

[@amc3463]

Nope made for short range which are useless in big battlefields of Ukraine were the enemy is 1000 yards on a flat Wheatfield

[@DNS-Freakz]

@@amc3463 Good for fighting in villages or towns tho.

[@fanta4897]

@@amc3463 Still useful in towns and forests which sometimes see combat too. I imagine that if Russia decides to fight in Kherson, then it might really shine there (if given chance that is, I don't think Ukrainians will be that eager to send unsupported tanks into town).

[@jamesmandahl444]

There is a video at some defense conference and a former soviet commander and expert discussed a bunch of kit the current Russian military has. He mentioned the rpg30 and mentioned interestingly that the smaller precursor rocket is NOT inert but performs some kind of jamming function to active protection systems.

[@cdgncgn]

leave the ignoramus be, he does not deserve to know.

[@noscopesallowed8128]

I'd be worried about that smaller projectile throwing aim off for the main rocket. Wonder how effective these are at range.

[@randomes919]

in the rpg 30 s main rounds tip has an micro cute shaped charge and an mini shaped charge rocket

[@coolplays3394]

Interested consept i can tell that the dummy round throws you off of target before the actual round is fired

[@astrosloth6342]

Wouldnt the first rocket disrupt your sight picture? or is there no recoil from the first rocket

[@JEJAK5396]

Rockets don’t have recoil.

[@weeweeiam]

Они вылетают одновременно.

[@rip2025]

Great job sir

[@brianfoley4328]

Interesting video...Thanks.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Thanks Brian!

[@elitedavidhorne8494]

I thought the secondary tube was for a spotting round when i saw the thumbnail

[@va_sirberpasir9708]

Almost thought the thinner tube was somekind of spotting rifle aparatus

[@azymight]

i want one of this in a post apoclyptic world, it looks petty mobile.

[@angrymancr]

And It`s very cheap, instead of tank and any defence systems

[@salieri_sg9413]

And is a one time use only. Get an RPG-7, Karl-Gustaff, or Panzerfaust 3

[@fungames24]

If you consider carrying around a log being mobile then yeah. The trouble with a log is that it will keep bumping in things.

[@bobthompson4319]

an rpg-7 can over come active protection. you just need 2 guys each with one and the second guy fires as fast as he can when he realizes the first guy had fired.

[@LoydUA]

T-64/72/80/90 just shoot in side, in most cases side isn't covered by any ERA, result big expulsion of ammunition :)

[@weeweeiam]

Наврядли...

[@weeweeiam]

@@LoydUA Борт Т72/80/90/64 прикрывается ДЗ

[@LoydUA]

@@weeweeiam Check pictures of tanks in Ukraine-Russia war, most of them lose ERA before entering combat because of mud, trees and other objects. Also nearly half of Russian versions of t-72/80/90 have ERA covering less than 1/3 of tank side. Sometimes even this cover is too narrow to provide adequate protection.

[@LynnetteJJW]

US: ah shit i missed! *proceeds to reload the M3E1*

[@EnigmaHood]

This would be the perfect counter to Trophy APS

[@jari2018]

i can see the double"barel" system implented on old swedish 90 mm recoiless cannons -it would make them viable

[@dantelagercrantz5123]

Which ones are we talking?

[@TheCrapOnYourStrapOn]

If the first rocket is a decoy and is inert how would it expend there era?

[@qelleri]

I find it very questionable that the inert precursor rocket would have any effect on ERA. Older soviet Kontakt-1, and to some extend Kontakt-5 , ERA are said to be so difficult to detonate that APFSDS can penetrate them without igniting the explosive filler. Said ERA works better against HEAT. The tandem warhead on the other hand will definitely clear ERA.

[@swisstraeng]

It's not for ERA. It's just for APS. For ERA there is the main tandem warhead.

[@TheArmourersBench]

The Era is primarily handled by the main rocket's tandem warhead but its possible the precursor will weaken ERA and armour in the point of impact area ahead of the main rocket.

[@trololoev]

@@TheArmourersBench did precursor have explosion in it? i think it is empty.

[@TheArmourersBench]

It is inert yes.

[@АлександрИванов-з8э4г]

Первый заряд для активной танковой брони а не для плит с динамической защитой.

[@hellrocker1212]

My god, it seems like you gotta be able to suck the damn muffler of the tank before your in range to fire. In those training shots that’s like 150 meters or less...

[@Bialy_1]

And it will be even less effective than German Panzerfaust from WW2->so 100m will be ok for stationary target and less than 50 for moving target. Not to mention that it is Made in Russia so even if you are able to hit the target there is huge chance that someone stolen something and the warhead is not functional...

[@waltp.1173]

Good video. Thank you.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Thanks for watching!

[@darrenburchett8970]

What is the smaller rocket for?

[@ChrisMeditationMindExperience]

That double bubble RPG round fails a lot.. they dont actually detonate very often

[@oteliogarcia1562]

3:53 an unboxing video with the obligatory tactical knife

[@Sophocles13]

With that delay between the two rockets firing, and the inherent accuracy in a rocket propelled projectile, I seriously wonder how accurately both projectiles can hit the same spot at any realistic distances...

[@cdgncgn]

cope harder, it cant hurt you lol.

[@penitent2401]

against reactive armor, if the decoy precursor rocket is inert, won't that just bounce off and not set off the reactive armor? it could set off any active measures meant to destroy the rocket before actual contact with the tank I guess.

[@TheArmourersBench]

It won't do much against the ERA, perhaps some kinetic damage, but the main rocket's tandem warhead is primarily designed to overcome the ERA while the precursor decoy prematurely triggers the APS.

[@M88881]

Guess ? Omg 😁😁😁

[@Sophocles13]

Developed in the early 2000's yet looks like the trash plumbing ripped out of a building.

[@ivaniuk123]

It seems like it would not be very effective the further distance from the target since the projectiles would probably separate the longer in flight.

[@jerry4251]

Why the tube has to be disposable

[@JeffBilkins]

I'd kinda expect the launch of the decoy to throw the aim of the main projectile, maybe at that range it doesn't matter too much.

[@lukebrainman]

I guess the slow motion exaggerates the delay between the 2 shots, I´d guess the the shooter they would feel as almost 1 shot, plus rockets like these have really low recoil in general. But you have a point, I feel like a better solution would be to have the decoy propelled from the same tube or even from the prokectile, but that would be more complex and also more expensive and I guess the Russians don´t have that much money to spare currently xD

[@obsidianjane4413]

@@lukebrainman Wouldn't work at all because if you stacked the projectiles like a "roman candle", then the lead rocket would have no way to vent its exhaust/reaction mass and thru would impart recoil. Having a "staging" where a faster front rocket leaves the main one after leaving the tube would also cause them to have all sorts of flight dynamic problems. This is probably the best/simplest solution although the integration could be better. Its easy to imagine the secondary tube getting bent out of alignment from being banged around and used as a carrying handle.

[@ivannightly1919]

very interesting I could see this being very effective

[@coloso8977]

¿Neta este lanzacohetes podrá ser efectivo contra tanques que cuenten con sistema Trophy APS? 🤔

[@baneofbanes]

No

[@jeffjefferson2676]

Really cool upload! Thank you! Greetings, Jeff

[@erl1544]

Seems like everyone flinches after the first decoy rocket, sending the second off target….

[@cdgncgn]

completely off target. You can be sure Russians are twice-left-handed and always hit with the precursor, never with the main grenade.

[@edc1569]

How does this work if the target is moving?

[@TheArmourersBench]

Good question, I guess it's relatively short range and slight delay can help compensate for the point if impact shift.

[@danielkemp4860]

Surely the point of a tandem HEAT warhead is to do the ERA thwarting ? And how on Earth do they align those barrels accurately enough to get the decoy rocket to hit the same place the main rocket will hit?!?

[@TheArmourersBench]

As you say, they are designed for use against vehicles with protection systems (none of which are in use in Ukraine).

[@conantdog]

Brilliant Design 👍

[@a.t6066]

Shouldn't that throw off your accuracy?

[@danwelterweight4137]

I would not want to get hit by this thing. This thing looks like a terrifying weapon.

[@cascadianrangers728]

If the first charge is inert, how does it set off explosive reactive armor? Even if it could the two are offset and incabable of hitting same spot. It cant, it must just be for APS

[@bolocamajan]

the first charge activates the active protection complex (if one is installed on the tank). The second grenade has a tandem warhead. It undermines reactive armor units and penetrates the main armor.

[@jamespaul579]

Thank u ❤

[@sickmit3481]

i dont thinks the two rockets even land on the same spot and the ERA bricks are not that big. Could be that the first rocket hits the ERA and the other rocket hits the ERA a little more up because of the "recoil"

[@TheArmourersBench]

Oh absolutely. The suggestion that ERA is neutralised by the precursor is a little ambitious, some kinetic damage is likely but howuch of an impact it will have I'm not sure. I should have stressed that further in the video. Thanks for watching!

[@jdogdarkness]

If the smaller barrel rocket is meant to defeat ERA, it definitely isn't gonna be inert. ERA is very stable, it requires explosives to set it off. It wouldn't explode just by being penetrated.

[@amata415]

Can the operator switch to rocket or decoy?

[@TheArmourersBench]

No ability to independently fire either of them no.

[@peterb2272]

Precursor projectile which is believed to be inert (0:43) but sets off ERA (0:57). 1. Can someone explain how an inert projectile does that? I know that ERA can protect again kinetic weapons but I cannot believe this mini rocket will be going fast enough to provide sufficient energy to set off ERA. 2. The picture of the warhead sure as hell looks like a tandem warhead...which IS designed to defeat ERA. 3. I also find it totally unbelievable that this handheld launcher provides sufficient accuracy (and stability!) for both round to hit essentially the same block of ERA. Nope, don't believe it. Gonna need a lot more evidence.

[@TheArmourersBench]

The precursor is designed to trigger APS not ERA. As you say the ERA might do some minor kinetic damage to the ERA but it probably won't trigger it. The precursor triggers the APS to allow the main rocket's tandem warhead to deal with the ERA and RHA. With the tandem warhead there's no need to hit the same block of ERA as long as the precursor triggers the APS in that quadrant the tandem main munition should do the trick against the ERA. Thanks for watching!

[@peterb2272]

@@TheArmourersBench That sounds like what I thought.....but you did actually say the Precursor projectile "causes premature activation of the ERA". Hope you correct the video.

[@TheArmourersBench]

I likely mispoke, definitely primarily the APS not ERA. The accompanying article for the video is correct and that's what is corrected if needed but given the emergence this week of more video of the RPG-30 in action I'll probably do another video on it early next month.

[@josedorsaith5261]

That is very cool

[@MotoMarios]

Several years back, I had found a website by a russian tank man, named Vassily Fofanov, dedicated as one would expect to Russian tanks. Somewhere in his page, for a short period of time he published the results of some anti-tank weapon tests that the Russian army had conducted, shooting against a T-80 tank. (I don't remember the variant or even if it was mentioned in the first place). The tests included a number of shots (no more than 8 for each) by: - RPG-7 -125mm gun with APFSDS rounds - RPG-29 The shots were fired at the frontal armor of the tank. The results really stupefied me because about half the APFSDS rounds of the 125mm gun penetrated, only one RPG-7 round managed to do some damage and (here is the surprise) all but one of the rounds of RPG-29 shot at the tank managed to penetrate. The fact that a portable RPG proved more effective than a 125mm round is (to me at least) astounding.

[@obsidianjane4413]

Does it have "soft launch"? It doesn't have much signature or back-blast.

[@TheArmourersBench]

No soft launch. Stated back blast danger area is 30m.

[@DarkestVampire92]

So why the heck doesnt it have any sights, electronic or optic? That greatly limits the potential range and use at night.

[@Sinyao]

It's an RPG. They probably didn't bother because they wanted to keep it cheap, the tandem rockets were too inaccurate to bother, assumed sourcing the optics weren't worth the bother, or maybe a meta tactic to not give the soldier something to sell off.

[@sector76]

Firing the precursor and the main charge in short delay against a target that does not have APS is less then ideal for many reasons, the main one being that the inert precursor will not defeat any ERA. Given the low muzzle velocity and limited effective range of this weapon it would make sense to be able to use the ballistically matched precursor as a ranging shot. That way it could still be usefull regardless if the target has APS or not? So one possible improvement could be adding three different firing modes.The first mode would be the current configuration against targets with APS. The second mode would just fire the precursor to verify aim/distance. The third would only fire the main charge.

[@MauriF76]

The simplest way is to fire everithing at once. As it do. If there is APS it will be defeated by precursor. The ERA by the tandem charge et voilà…

[@williamzk9083]

@@MauriF76 I know its hard for people educated by combat verified to believe that Westerner think ahead but we though of that. For instance current Trophy APS can handle 16 precursors in rapid succession. Like a lot of Russian weapons its designed to defeat other Russian weapons used by middle eastern dictatorships or Ex Soviet Republics.

[@MauriF76]

@@williamzk9083 the speed of Trophy’s reloading is about 50 times slower than the time that the main charge of RPG30 follows its precursor. You’re telling bs

[@williamzk9083]

@@MauriF76 Recent German systems have cut down the reengagement delay from 20ms-50ms to 1ms negating RPG-30. Since Diehl, Rheinmetal and the Trophy maker Rafael makers work together this is not going to be an issue. Modified versions of trophy have already been tested for Iron Fist the new APS.

[@trololoev]

@@williamzk9083 no, it can't. After APS usage there is explosion, made by APS and system doesn't see shit. This is why all video show APS work against rockets from different sides.

[@Clonefiles]

As an ex soldier i dont know why you would check your weapon after breaking into the enemy territory...

[@cjthebeesknees]

Recoil? What Recoil Comrades.

[@evinchester7820]

Reminds me of the old LAWS but with some upgrades.

[@galesams4205]

This is just like the M-72 LAW used in vietnam. LZ Oasis.