Reactive anti-tank grenade RPG-28 in firing position
Further a improvements of tank protection, namely the development of new composite armour and the use of integrated and new types of add-on explosive reactive armour, introduced by major tank-manufacturing countries in the 1990s, once again demanded that the armour penetration of anti-tank rockets be increased. The Bazalt State Research and Production Enterprise developed the RPG-28 disposable heavy anti-tank rocket launcher in the early 2000s.
The project aimed to develop an expendable man-portable rocket-launcher with the maximum penetration of armour of advanced main battle tanks, while preserving acceptable weight and dimensions. The RPG-28 can also efficiently kill enemy manpower in defensive fortifications and buildings. The rocket launcher is designed to boost combat capabilities of Army units.
In order to increase penetration the calibre of the main warhead of the PG-28 round was increased up to 125 mm. The precursor charge with a piezoelectric fuse, just like that of the RPG-27, detonates when the round hits the ERA, destroys it, and sends a pulse to detonate the main warhead. At the same time a shaped-charge jet forms after the ERA is defeated, thus, the ERA explosion does not deform the shaped-charge jet of the main warhead and does not reduce its penetration. As a result, the PG-28 rocket is capable of defeating protection of any modern main battle tank.
RPG-28 light anti-armour weapon
The Tula-based TsKIB SOO developed an expendable fibreglass launch tube with a calibre of 125 mm and a length of 1200 mm for the new round. The launch tube mounts the trigger assembly and iron sights, comprising a pop-up frame foresight and a dioptre rear sight with a temperature adjustment option, similar to that of the RPG-27. The RPG-28 launch tube is also fitted with a folding monopod, mounted near the rear end of the launch tube. The monopod assumes some of the rocket weight and makes the operator hold the muzzle at a height sufficient for jack-knife fins, unfolding after the launch, not to touch the ground.
An increase of calibre brought the weight of the RPG-28 up to 12 kg. The effective range of fire amounts to 300 m. It lakes three simple actions to set up the rocket launcher from the travelling position or tear it down from the combat position A heavier weight and a greater length of the RPG-28 have decreased the manoeuvrability of the rocket launcher operator, as compared with that of infantrymen, firing RPG-26S. However, the deterioration of the above-mentioned characteristics is totally offset by the boosted ability to kill targets, fitted with ERA.
Specifications RPG-28
Warhead calibre, mm: 125
Overall weighs, kg: 12
Length, travelling, mm: 1200
Effecisve range of fire, m: 300
Deployment time, sec: up to 10
Penetration, mm:
homogeneous armour: 900 behing ERA
