MATADOR anti-tank grenades for Ukraine
Disposable MATADOR grenade launcher with standard sight and cumulative grenade
In recent weeks and months, foreign states have repeatedly transferred various anti-tank weapons to Ukraine. At the end of March, it became known that the first batch of RGW 90 MATADOR products arrived from Germany, and new ones are expected in the near future. In total, it is planned to supply 5100 disposable grenade launchers of this type, and most of them are being manufactured right now and under a full-fledged commercial contract.
commercial order
The bulk of foreign weapons in recent weeks has arrived in Ukraine free of charge as part of military-technical assistance. New parts are being prepared right now weapons, and the Ukrainian leadership is begging for the following. At the same time, Kyiv found an opportunity to place a direct order for the desired samples of the new production.
According to the German press, back in early March, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and Dynamit Nobel Defense signed a contract for the production and supply of 5100 new rocket-propelled anti-tank grenades (disposable grenade launchers) RGW 90 MATADOR. The total cost of these products is $25 million, and this amount was paid by the Ukrainian authorities. According to other sources, an unnamed businessman paid for the production of weapons as a donation.
In an expedited manner, the contract was carried out through all bureaucratic procedures and approved for implementation. It is curious that the permission for the production and supply of grenade launchers for Ukraine, in accordance with the law, was given by the Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection. Since it was about new products not from the warehouses of the Bundeswehr, the opinion of the military department in this case was not taken into account.
RGW 90 LRMP configuration with electronic sight
In the twentieth of March, the first reports of the implementation of the new contract were received. The Ukrainian side was delivered and handed over the first batch of 2650 grenades of the new assembly. It also became known that the production and transfer of the remaining 2450 units. it will take no more than a few weeks. New batches of grenades, several hundred pieces per week, will be handed over to the customer until the beginning of May inclusive.
Products "Matador" are already dispersed in warehouses, formations and units of the armed forces and other formations of Ukraine. In addition, we can already talk about the combat use of these weapons - and about their losses. On April 5, a photograph of a grenade appeared on profile resources, which became a trophy of our troops in Mariupol. Whether this item belongs to a recent batch is not clear.
International project
The reactive anti-tank grenade MATADOR (Man-portable Anti-Tank, Anti-Door - “Portable anti-tank and for knocking out doors”) was developed in the late nineties to replace the obsolete Armbrust product in the Bundeswehr and foreign armies. The main objective of the project was to create a grenade launcher capable of hitting armored targets and making gaps in buildings. Initially, weapons were created in 60 mm caliber, and later a 90 mm product was made on its basis.
The development was carried out within the framework of international cooperation. Germany was represented by Dynamit Nobel. The Israeli company Rafael and the Singaporean military-technical department DSTA also participated in the work. In the future, the project participants had to master mass production for their countries and for export.
In 2000, the promising Matador passed all the necessary tests, after which it received the first recommendations for adoption. The first customers of the grenade launcher were the developing countries. With his help, they replaced the obsolete Armbrusts in their armies. It is curious that Israel and Singapore accepted the product under the original name, and Germany introduced an additional RGW 90 index indicating the class and caliber of the product.
In the 90s and XNUMXs, other countries became interested in the MATADOR product. This led to the emergence of several large export contracts, carried out by different participants in the project. To date, the XNUMX-mm grenade launcher is in service with Belgium, Great Britain, Vietnam, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Slovenia. Right now, Ukraine is on the list of operators. Several countries have ordered smaller caliber weapons.
Anti-tank grenade. The base of the contact fuse protrudes from the front cut of the pipe
In 2009, Matador grenades were used for the first time in a real military operation. During operations in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army used such weapons to make passages in the walls. Anti-tank options were not used due to the absence of any armored vehicles from the enemy.
Technical features
RGW 90 MATADOR is a disposable rocket-propelled anti-tank grenade launcher. The product is delivered from the factory ready-made, and after a single shot it is thrown away. There are several options for weapons with grenades for various purposes. Depending on the type of shot, such a product can hit light armored vehicles or main Tanks (from some angles), as well as brick or concrete buildings.
The grenade launcher is distinguished by a certain simplicity of design. It consists of a barrel-container with a grenade inside, an external trigger mechanism and sighting devices. The trigger mechanism has folding handles for fire control and a shoulder rest. The sight is made removable and can be replaced.
Initially, MATADOR was equipped with a low magnification optical sight. With its help, effective shooting at standing and moving targets at ranges up to 300-500 m was ensured. Later, the Dynahawk sight was developed with a rangefinder, a ballistic computer and a grenade programmer. In the RGW 90 LRMP or Wirkmittel 90 configuration, such a sight provides shooting at 1200 m.
The total length of the product in the combat position is no more than 1 m. The caliber of the barrel is 90 mm. The weight of the heaviest modification is 8,9 kg. It is argued that in terms of weight / dimensions and combat qualities, the Matador is one of the best modern anti-tank jet weapons.
Grenade modifications
All ammunition for MATADOR is built according to general principles and uses the recoilless launch principle. The grenade is equipped with a starting charge and anti-mass in the form of plastic granules. When fired, the pellets fly out of the rear nozzle and quickly decelerate in the air, thereby reducing the danger zone behind the weapon. The initial speed of the grenade itself is 250 m / s. In flight, its own jet engine is turned on, further accelerating the grenade.
Several variants of the grenade launcher with different grenades are offered. Thus, the product RGW 90 HH (HEAT / HESH) is equipped with a combined action warhead: depending on the mode of the fuse, it works as a cumulative or armor-piercing warhead with a collapsible warhead. A similar tandem charge grenade (HH-T) has been developed. Penetration - at least 500 mm of homogeneous armor, incl. for dynamic protection.
The next development option for this line is the MATADOR-MP multi-purpose grenade, which independently determines the detonation mode when it hits. On its basis, the product RGW 90 LRMP with an increased firing range was created.
Use of a smoke grenade
Of great interest is the MATADOR-WB grenade. It is equipped with a special warhead to destroy buildings. Depending on the type of target, it can penetrate several layers of masonry and/or make a hole with a diameter of at least 400-450 mm. There are also special grenades with smoke and lighting charges.
With some potential
In general, the disposable MATADOR grenade launcher in 90 mm caliber is not the newest, but quite a successful example of infantry rocket weapons. Its strengths include small dimensions and weight, simplicity and ease of handling. In addition, an important advantage is the presence of several modifications with different grenades, which allows you to solve a wide range of tasks. Due to some solutions, it was possible to obtain a high firing range without increasing the weapon.
At the same time, the RGW 90 has the disadvantages and limitations of all weapons in this class. First of all, this is the limited power of the grenade. The anti-tank HH / HH-T allows you to deal with light armored vehicles, but effectiveness against targets with more powerful protection is not guaranteed. In addition, accurate shooting with a standard sight places high demands on the skills of grenade launchers. Range restrictions, especially against moving targets, increase the risks for the operator.
In general, the Matador can pose a great danger both to equipment of different classes, and to structures or personnel. Therefore, the supply of such weapons to Ukraine should not go unnoticed. First of all, it is necessary to take measures to identify and destroy their places of storage and vehicles. This will reduce the number of grenades at the forefront and reduce the associated risks. In addition, vehicle crews and infantry need to be aware of such threats and do everything possible to protect against them.
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