The RPO-A Shmel is a Soviet-designed, Russian-produced 93 mm disposable rocket flamethrower built around a thermobaric fuel-air explosive round. Adopted in 1988 after mid-1980s development, it became a close-assault weapon for caves, bunkers, buildings, and fortified urban positions, with documented appearances from Afghanistan and Chechnya through Syria, Ukraine, and Gaza.
The Australian Army Research Centre describes the RPO-A Shmel as first employed by Soviet forces in Afghanistan against cave complexes and bunkers during the late Soviet-Afghan War.
RAND and Australian Army analyses describe Russian use of RPO-A Shmel weapons during the fighting for Grozny, where the thermobaric launcher was treated as short-range firepower for buildings, bunkers, and fortified urban positions.
RAND's 1994-2000 Grozny study states that thermobaric weapons including the RPO-A Shmel were used in the second battle for Grozny, with Russian forces relying on them as close-range urban assault weapons.
Armament Research Services documented an RPO-A Shmel captured by Ajnad al-Sham from Syrian government positions near Skaik, Hama, in 2015, placing RPO-family launchers in Syrian Civil War frontline stocks.
Role detailsDocumented with Russian forces in Ukraine as a shoulder-fired thermobaric weapon, including reported Russian assault and flamethrower-unit use against Ukrainian fortified positions near Kupyansk in April 2024.
Role detailsReportedly used by Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza on December 27, 2023, when the group said an RPO-A Shmel targeted an Israeli special-forces unit inside a house in Jabalia.
Role detailsThe RPO-A is the thermobaric member of an original 1988 three-warhead family, with later Russian launchers using similar rocket-flamethrower terminology for compact or enhanced-range systems.
| Designation | Warhead or role | Reader note |
|---|---|---|
| RPO-A | Thermobaric / FAE | Main thermobaric version covered by this record. |
| RPO-Z | Incendiary | Original family variant listed by Modern Firearms. |
| RPO-D | Smoke | Original family variant listed by Modern Firearms. |
| RPO-M / RPO PDM-A | Enhanced-range thermobaric | Later successor in the same Russian rocket-flamethrower lineage. |
| MRO-A | Compact thermobaric | Smaller related launcher documented separately by ARES in Ukraine and Syria. |
The original RPO family used suffixes for warhead function; later compact or enhanced-range launchers kept the Soviet/Russian rocket-flamethrower lineage but are distinct adjacent systems.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| RPO-Z | Incendiary variant | Modern Firearms lists RPO-Z as the incendiary version adopted alongside the RPO-A and RPO-D in 1988. |
| RPO-D | Smoke variant | Modern Firearms lists RPO-D as the smoke-producing version in the original RPO family. |
| RPO-M / RPO PDM-A Shmel-M | Enhanced-range thermobaric successor | Modern Firearms treats the RPO-M, also known as RPO PDM-A or Shmel-M, as a later enhanced-range and enhanced-lethality successor rather than the original RPO-A round. |
| MRO-A | Compact thermobaric rocket launcher | ARES identifies MRO-A launchers as a smaller, related Russian thermobaric system documented separately from full-size RPO-A weapons in Ukraine and Syria. Sources: Russian MRO-A Rocket Launchers in Ukraine, Russian MRO-A Thermobaric Rocket Launchers in Syria |
Modern Firearms says development of the RPO family began in 1984 as a single-shot disposable launcher for the Soviet Army.
Sources: RPO-A "Schmel" Rocket-Propelled Flame-Thrower
The Soviet Army adopted the RPO family in 1988 in thermobaric, incendiary, and smoke versions.
Sources: RPO-A "Schmel" Rocket-Propelled Flame-Thrower
Australian Army Research Centre analysis describes RPO-A Shmel use against caves and bunkers in Afghanistan.
Sources: RPO-A Shmel: The Devil's Tube
RAND and Australian Army analysis describe RPO-A use in the First Chechen War's urban fighting around Grozny.
Sources: Russia's Chechen Wars 1994-2000, RPO-A Shmel: The Devil's Tube
Armament Research Services documented an RPO-A Shmel captured by Ajnad al-Sham from Syrian government positions in Hama.
Sources: Russian MRO-A Thermobaric Rocket Launchers in Syria
Army Recognition published a report describing Russian RPO-A use against Ukrainian positions near Kupyansk.
Sources: Russian Forces Use RPO-A Shmel Destructive Man-Portable Weapons Against Ukrainian Positions
Across the cited conflicts, the RPO-A appears less as a general anti-armor rocket and more as short-range assault firepower for enclosed or fortified positions.
| Setting | Documented use | Source context |
|---|---|---|
| Caves and bunkers | Soviet forces used the launcher against cave complexes and bunkers in Afghanistan. | Australian Army Research Centre. |
| Dense urban fighting | Russian forces used RPO-A thermobaric effects in Grozny against buildings and fortified urban positions. | RAND and Australian Army analysis. |
| Frontline materiel evidence | ARES documented RPO-family launchers in Syria and Ukraine, including an RPO-A captured from Syrian government positions. | Armament Research Services. |
