The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of Us Warfare by James F. Dunnigan
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The Russo-Jordanian Super RPG
by James Dunnigan
January 12, 2012
A factory in Jordan has begun production of a new, Russian designed, portable anti-tank weapon called the RPG-32. The design was paid for by Jordan so the new weapon could be produced in Jordan. The RPG-32 will also be produced in Mexico, Argentina, and Russia. The RPG-32 has two components. One is the non-disposable sight and sleeve for insertion of the rocket launcher container. The sight module weighs three kg (6.6 pounds) while the 105mm rocket (stored in and fired from its cylindrical container) weighs seven kg (15.4 pounds). This rocket has a max range of 700 meters and can penetrate 750mm (30 inches) of armor. The old RPG-7 launcher weighed 8.2 kg (18 pounds) and each 85mm rocket propelled warhead weighed 2.3 kg (5 pounds). With a range of 200 meters the warhead could penetrate 300mm of armor. An improved (and slightly heavier) tandem warhead for the RPG-7 could penetrate 600mm of armor.
The design of the RPG-32 was based on the earlier Russian RPG-29. This was a late 1980s design that consisted of a 4.55 kg (ten pound) launcher that fired a 105mm 6.7 kg (14.7 pound) rocket out to 500 meters. The warhead could penetrate 700mm of armor. The launchers cost about $500 each and the rockets $300 each.
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