"Overcome the Vampire's main drawback": the RPG-29M grenade launcher is shown

Impressive combat performance and ease of use have earned the RPG-29 "Vampire" grenade launcher widespread popularity worldwide. At the WDS 2026 exhibition in Riyadh, NPO Bazalt unveiled its latest development—a heavily modernized version of the RPG-29M. International observers have paid particular attention to the product. For example, the Brazilian publication Tribuna do Sertão noted:

The new product has overcome the main drawback of its predecessor, becoming much lighter and increasing its firing range while maintaining its firepower.

The launcher's empty weight for the base model is 11,5–12,1 kg. Rostec claims that designers managed to reduce the weight by a factor of three when creating the new version, and, according to the promotional video, it has dropped to 4,4 kg (apparently due to the use of innovative composites and alloys). Thus, the RPG-29M is lighter than even the RPG-7 (6,3 kg), while possessing a significantly more powerful grenade (105 mm versus 40 mm).

At the same time, improved ammunition for the RPG-29 was also developed: the tandem PG-29VM (direct fire range of 700 m), designed to effectively destroy armored vehicles; the thermobaric TBG-29VM (1000 m), ensuring the destruction of manpower both in open terrain and in shelters; the multi-purpose MG-29M (1000 m), designed to neutralize the crews of combat vehicles, gun crews and personnel.

Such a significant increase in firing range (up to 1 km – that is, twofold) is due to the unique combination of new grenade ballistics and the operation of the “smart sight”.

The left photo shows the MRO-A compact rocket flamethrower (top), the RPG-29M, and new ammunition for it; the right photo shows the display at the Bazalt Scientific and Production Association:

The new grenade launcher features an integrated fire control system and a new ITP-VG-50 IR sight. The ITP-50 is built around an uncooled, high-resolution microbolometer matrix (640×480 pixels with a 17-µm pitch), enabling effective target acquisition in zero-visibility conditions (smoke, fog, and complete darkness). Optical magnification is 1,76×. Digital zoom is 2×, 4×, and 8×. It can detect a full-length figure at a range of up to 1300–1500 m and recognize targets at a distance of approximately 400–500 m. The field of view is 12,4×9,3°.

The sight’s memory already contains ballistic profiles for various types of firearms. weapons and grenade launchers, which allows you to make range adjustments with the press of a button.

The ITP-50 sight itself weighs approximately 700–900 g (depending on the type of mount and power supply), making it one of the lightest in its class for matrices of this resolution.

Comments

[Junior Private]

I hope it doesn't burn my neck like the RPG-7.

[SSR]

Quote: Junior Private

I hope it doesn't burn my neck like the RPG-7.

So much time has passed and it should work as before?
Meaning?

[SAG]

Quote: Junior Private

I hope it doesn't burn my neck like the RPG-7.

It's hard to even imagine how someone could burn their neck on a shaitantrub, as the standard wooden handguards are. Theoretically, you could stand behind the grenade launcher when it fires, but then you could get not only a neck burn, but also a burn all over your hand.
As for 40mm, that's the diameter of the propellant powder charge, not the shot itself. So the comparison isn't appropriate.
I'd like to know the loaded weight of the weapon to draw any conclusions. But I have no doubt in the superiority of the replica—the RPG-7 is a 70-year-old grandfather, though still as relevant as ever!

[militarist63]

I hope the RPG-7 doesn't burn your neck laughing

Where did you read such nonsense, "expert"?!

[dFG]

The RPG7 doesn't burn your neck in any way when fired)) I've shot it myself and haven't even heard of it from the sidelines))

[Junior Private]

Burns the neck with youthful foolishness Not everyone listened attentively to the teachers.

[Zoldat_A]

Quote: dfg

The RPG7 doesn't burn your neck in any way when fired)) I've shot it myself and haven't even heard of it from the sidelines))

It was especially funny

while having a much more powerful grenade (105 mm versus 40).

Of course, gunsmiths have their own tricks when calculating caliber, but the 40 mm caliber of the RPG-7 is a very, very interesting statement.
Anyone who's had to "operate" all of this, in my opinion, when they hear the word "caliber," they think more of what's entirely contained within the barrel—from a pistol to a torpedo. Then again, the term "subcaliber"—that is, something smaller in diameter than the barrel caliber—is depressing.
There are, of course, exceptions—like the RPG-7 or some of the bombs they used to mount on Katyusha rockets. But the "RPG-7 40mm caliber" still seems a bit jarring...

[tatarin1972]

There is also a supercaliber one; charges for the RPG-7, except for the OG-7 "Pencil," belong to them.

[Zoldat_A]

Quote: tatarin1972

There is also a supercaliber one; charges for the RPG-7, except for the OG-7 "Pencil," belong to them.

Well, that's basically what I'm getting at. But the words "RPG-7 40mm caliber" still grate on my ears. After all, those same 40mm, while probably considered the "correct" caliber, still somehow evoke that "above-caliber" part.

[tatarin1972]

The instructions say so - the barrel bore is smooth.
cue, open at both ends. The diameter of the channel
The caliber of the barrel is called the caliber; for a grenade launcher,
and it is equal to 40 mm.

[Zoldat_A]

Quote: tatarin1972

The manual states exactly this: The barrel bore is smooth, open at both ends. The bore diameter is called the caliber; for a grenade launcher, it's 40 mm.

I had a friend with two aviation degrees—one military, one civilian. He was a helicopter technician. He used to say, "My head understands why a helicopter flies, but my heart doesn't."
It's pretty much the same here: the manual says 40 mm, so it's 40 mm. But it's not the 40 mm that's closest to your hands, but the grenade itself, with its "over-caliber." That's why there's such a dissonance in your head.

[militarist63]

Yeah, it looks like the writer of this publication is clearly a "great expert" in weapons! Before making such comparisons:

Thus, the RPG-29M is lighter than even the RPG-7 (6,3 kg), while having a much more powerful grenade (105 mm versus 40).

, I would like to figure out what an RPG-7 is.... Compares the diameters (calibers) of the tubes of these different grenade launchers And he completely fails to understand that the RPG-7's 40mm barrel only accepts the tail section of the grenade (80% of the rocket motor and propellant), while the RPG-29M's 105mm tube accepts the entire grenade! Meanwhile, the warheads of the RPG-7 grenade launchers, the PG-7VR and TBG-7V, are also 105mm... And the original (most ancient) PG-7V grenades have an 85mm warhead.

[don_Reba]

Looks like they messed something up (tripod, no tripod)
How can you launch 6,7 kg of nonsense from a 4 kg pipe?

[Foggy Dew]

Well, the bipod is folded in the photo. As for the launcher's weight, there's no recoil, so it doesn't matter. The launcher itself weighs 4 kilos, plus the grenade weighs 7. It's bearable, considering the caliber.

[don_Reba]

So you're assuming that the vintage RPG-29's launch tube was machined from a single cast iron piece?

The RPG-29 "Vampire" launch tube is made using composite materials (reinforced plastics).

Two-piece design: For ease of carrying, the pipe consists of two parts that are joined together before use.
Launch tube caliber: 105 mm.
Locking mechanism: The pipe sections are connected using a special rotating ring lock, reminiscent of a pressure cooker valve, which ensures quick assembly and structural rigidity.

Let me remind you: the shot remained the same, and the same

Firing principle: Unlike the RPG-7, the propellant charge of the grenade engine is completely burns inside the launch tube. This makes the shot quite "hard." (violent launch).

The old tube was designed for 300 shots.
What about a new one? It won't work, just like with the Ukrainian hammer-mortar.
🤔 I have a nagging doubt: did they wind the pipe out of carbon tubes or something?
How to reduce the container weight by 3 times, while maintaining the same other characteristics, whether the old one is already made of composites.
Questions, questions, questions

[Foggy Dew]

If one tube is disposable and the other is for 300 shots, then there's no question that the second is clearly stronger, and therefore heavier. I highly doubt fiberglass can withstand repeated RD launches, so as far as the metal tube goes, that's for sure. Combustion doesn't matter—it's a recoilless rifle anyway, otherwise you'll have no idea where to aim it.

[Nikolaevich I]

Quote: Foggy Dew

If one pipe is disposable,

"If the pipe is disposable, then it is an RPG-27 "Tavolga"!

[Nikolaevich I]

Quote: Foggy Dew

I seriously doubt that fiberglass can withstand repeated rocket launches, so as for the metal pipe - that's for sure.

The Chinese army is armed with a 120mm recoilless rifle (grenade launcher) PF-98! The barrel is made of fiberglass and is designed for 200 shots! There is no mention of a metal liner!

[Xenofont]

Where in the article is the weight of the grenade in its seal indicated? 6,7 is the weight of the RPG-7 tube.

[don_Reba]

Quote: Xenofont

Where in the article is the weight of the grenade in the seal indicated?

Did I even say "it's written in the article"? And it's still in some kind of "packaging"!
Huh?
Any veteran knows:
PG-29V is a tandem cumulative, TBG-29V is a thermobaric, the mass of each is ~6,7 kg, the mass of the boom-boom itself is ~4,5 kg (this is not exact).
This is perfectly confirmed by the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation, which reports directly to the President of the Russian Federation, and not by some article by an unknown author.
P.S. and the weight of the empty pipe is also indicated there.

[Nikolaevich I]

We managed to reduce the weight by 3 times, and, judging by the advertising video, it decreased to 4,4 kg (apparently due to the use of innovative composites and alloys). Well, due to "new" composites? And what new composites could there be these days? Fiberglass? Already have it! Carbon fiber? Already have it! Kevlar fiber? Already have it! So, the "old" RPG-29 could have been made of this too! The question arises about the length of the grenade launcher! The length of the RPG-29 is approximately 1,85 meters! So maybe they managed to reduce the length of the "barrel"? And this is possible due to the use of a solid propellant rocket motor with a higher combustion rate in the round! So, the new RPG-29 will need new rounds!

[don_Reba]

The shot is old, the shot is hard, the old pipe was made of composite materials (reinforced plastics).
The Vietnamese clone had a slightly larger mass (approximately 2 kg), because their composites were inferior, due to the absence of Rusnano and Anatoly Borisych (who now has a suspicious Jewish surname).

[Nikolaevich I]

Quote: don_Reba

The shot is old

You guessed it wrong! The RPG-29M's weight has been reduced not only by using new, stronger composites, but also by shortening the barrel (as I expected)! And that's where the new rounds come from! A simple comparison! RPG-29 > PG-29V round, RPG-29M > PG-29VM! And so on...

[don_Reba]

Quote: Nikolaevich I

You guessed it wrong! The RPG-29M's weight has been reduced not only by using new, stronger composites, but also by shortening the barrel (as I suspected)!

Why smear snot?
Specifically, how much in mm, cm, meters🤪 has the length of the pipe decreased?
How does a new round in the same caliber, with improved propellant mixture characteristics in a propellant/burning charge, relate to the mass of the PU? (Where's the logic here, any of it?)
And why "I don't give a damn"?
I'm interested, I think, I doubt, and you, like those crazy priests, immediately drag me to the fire.
Shame on you

[Nikolaevich I]

1. I see no reason to be ashamed; 2. "...I think, I doubt..." You don't doubt, but assert: An old shot... 3. "Like those crazy priests, you're dragging me to the stake." I just read in an interesting article the phrase: Unjust enrichment... If applied to you, this phrase would sound like: Unjust indignation! 4. I don't feel like sharing the info with you anymore! I'll save it for a future comment...

[don_Reba]

Quote: Nikolaevich I

I no longer want to share information with you!

Indeed... what's surprising?
It amazes me how a grown man (judging by his vocabulary), with regalia (marshal's stars are not hung on someone for nothing) can spout such nonsense: "they shortened the tube" (with the standard/size/shot)
🤦
If the author writes that the tube's weight has decreased "by 3 times"...
So what?
- the length has decreased by 2/3 (but the shot is the same size as the old one, otherwise the markings would be different)
- the thickness has decreased by 2/3 (and the shot is harsh)
--"unparalleled in the world, based on new physical principles" were used (I haven't seen a single one of these in the last 30 years)
Anyway... I don't insist, everyone believes what they want to believe.

[bk316]

What new composites can there be in our time?

Yes, any.
Carbon fiber reinforced plastic, fiberglass - this is not a specific material, but a whole class of materials.
But in concrete terms, the resulting properties are completely different.
Believe it or not, even with the same composition, if you change the fiber winding pattern, the strength characteristics change dramatically.
And the topic of reinforcement with SEVERAL DIFFERENT fibers is generally a field for imagination.

[don_Reba]

Quote: bk316

SEVERAL DIFFERENT fibers generally leave room for imagination

Which of course gives (like 2 fingers on the asphalt) a decrease in the density (read: mass) of the tube material immediately and unconditionally by 3 (Karl, three ☝️ times), with the same strength (I note).
Cool.
So why are there such problems with the wing of the MS-21, and with the obesity of the newest Il-112?
(I would direct it to the wing with “several different fibers,” and not to the RPG-29 tube.
No seriously: the marshal's version has a "shortened" tube, which is more realistic (damn... but not 3 times shorter, huh?)

[Phoenix Point]

Was there a drawback? Why does the author emphasize weight and range? UkrainianI propose a new title for this article: "The excellent Vampire RPG just got even better! Weight reduced and range increased!" And the author is a loser.

[don_Reba]

Quote: Phoenix Point

Why does the author emphasize weight and range? Ukrainian?

Because
"The combat crew of the RPG-29 Vampire hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher consists of two people: a grenade launcher and his assistant."
11,5 kg without a sight, 0,6 kg with a sight, and with a tripod almost 19 kg or 20 kg.
But if it's true, one person can carry 4 kilos.
Weight is sooo important: in my old age, I grabbed a TR-3 (7,62 caliber), 30 rounds, a collimator and optics, a backpack with a 1-liter thermos, a couple of sandwiches, a set of spare clothes, a hatchet, and a 6x9 (it's good that I took out the wire cutters), a winter suit (December, my last chance), high boots, and started looking for/chasing the moose.
😢17 km of stress. -3 kg of live weight, not for a moose.
I wanted to throw away the 6x9 and the 20mm magazine. A toad.

And whether the author is Ukrainian or Japanese - what difference does it make?
P.S. With the old ammunition, the range won't increase at all.

[nedgen]

What's with the nonsense in the article about the RPG-7 grenade being 40mm in caliber? The grenade itself is over-caliber, meaning it's larger than the RPG-7's barrel diameter. Yes, if I'm not mistaken, the propellant charge and grenade motor for the RPG-7 are 40mm, but all RPG-7 grenades are larger than 40mm, except for the fragmentation grenade. Even the PG-7VR grenade, if I'm not mistaken, is 105mm in caliber. It's even been said that it's essentially an RPG-29 grenade adapted for the RPG-7.

[solar]

while having a much more powerful grenade (105 mm versus 40)

Someone should explain to the author that the RPG-7 has a super-caliber grenade and its diameter is the same 105 mm.

[Damien_C]

Aye all grand, but instead of bumming it up how about letting certain groups use it on the ground the way the NATO countries gave everything to Ukraine to kill Russians

[Monster_Fat]

Cool - we're back to the RPG-7...

[Romanenko]

It reminded me of the RPG-16 73mm, which was in service with the Russian Armed Forces. It weighed 10 kilograms on its own, but it could be disassembled into two parts like the Vampire, making it convenient for airborne landings.

[the same doctor]

The main drawback of any grenade launcher is that it must be fired by a HUMAN. A living soldier must expose their forehead. While it's not difficult to build a robotic machine gun, a robotic grenade launcher is even simpler: the required accuracy is measured in meters and there's virtually no recoil. Humans can perfect hardware, but any grenade launcher, even one from 50 years ago, will do for a robot.