Infantry weapons / Rocket launchers / RPG-22
RPG-22
General Facts
- TYPE
Rocket launcher - ORIGIN
USSR - NICKNAMES
Neto (Russian nickname) - DESIGNED
Late 1970's - DESIGNER
? - PRODUCTION
1980 - 1993 - PRODUCERS
Bulgaria - VMZ
Russia
USSR - QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Good penetration
Launch tube can be retracted
More complex than later RPG-26
Introduction
The RPG-22 Neto is a disposable rocket launcher of Soviet origin. It was developed as a more potent replacement for the RPG-18. In turn the RPG-22 was replaced by the product improved RPG-26.
Design
The RPG-22 Neto has the same design as the earlier RPG-18. The fin-stabilized rocket has a larger diameter warhead. The two part launch tube is fully made out of fibreglass and is slightly extended before firing. A flip up ladder sight is used for aiming. Since it is a disposable rocket launcher it is operated by a single person.
Firepower
The RPG-22 fires the PG-22 HEAT rocket. The shaped charge warhead will pierce 400 mm of homogenous steel armor. It can penetrate 1.5 m of bricks or 1 m concrete. The maximum effective range is about 200 meters.
Users
The RPG-22 was widely used among Soviet forces during the late Cold War era. It remains in use former Soviet states, although in Russia it is stockpiled for reserve forces. The RPG-22 was also exported, but not nearly as much as the RPG-7.
RPG-22
The RPG-22 is a light weight disposable anti-tank rocket launcher. It was produced in only one variant that fires the PG-22 HEAT rocket. The RPG-22 can be identified as being longer and having a larger diameter than the RPG-18. Also the rear sight is in the middle instead of at the end. The later and similar sized RPG-26 has a rigid non-extendable launch tube.
- Specifications:
- RPG-22
Type | Rocket launcher |
---|---|
Crew | 1 |
Caliber | 72 mm |
Length | 785 mm folded, 850 mm extended |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 2.8 kg total |
Sights | Mechanical, pop up sights with 50, 150 and 250 m gradation |
Ammunition | PG-22 HEAT rocket |
Guidance | None, free flight |
Velocity | 133 m/s at muzzle, 300 m/s max |
---|---|
Range | |
Penetration | 400 mm RHA, 1.2 m brick, 1 m concrete |
Remarks | Disposable launcher |