A hand grenade launcher is a powerful individual weapon of a fighter. Using a grenade launcher, he can protect himself from enemy tanks and armored vehicles. With a relatively low cost, a hand-held grenade launcher can destroy an enemy’s tank or an enemy's BRT, which cost several million dollars. At the same time, hand-held grenade launchers are very simple weapons and do not require high qualifications of a fighter. The famous RPG-7 became the favorite weapon of various partisans and insurgents. There are confirmed cases of defeat from the RPG-7, even low-flying helicopters.
True, there is one "but." Recently, the protection of tanks and armored vehicles has advanced far ahead, and it is already quite difficult to destroy a tank from a manual grenade launcher. Modern tanks have received multi-layered armor, with the addition of ceramics, built-in dynamic protection systems, active defense systems and a distinguished veteran, the RPG-7 is no longer very effective against them. Especially if old types of grenades are used.
For example, American and British tanks in Iraq withstood up to fifteen hits from RPG-7 grenades and left the battlefield under their own power. In Chechnya, separatists needed 7-8 hits in the car to subdue Russian tanks. Therefore, the idea of developing a new anti-tank grenade launcher, which would replace the excellent, reliable, but already outdated RPG-7, just soared in the air.
In the Soviet Union, and later in Russia, the main center for the development and production of grenade launchers is NPP Bazalt, it was there that the famous RPG-7 and a number of other excellent anti-tank weapons were created. One of the latest developments of the Basalt was the RPG-32 jet-assisted hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher, aka Hashim. This grenade launcher is already overgrown with legends and is considered the most powerful in the world. He is able to penetrate the homogeneous armor meter thickness.
Description of the grenade launcher and its history
RPG-32 has such a strange name for the Slavic ear, because it was developed for the armed forces of Jordan. This grenade launcher was to be produced in this Arab country under license and even exported to other countries. This is a joint Russian-Jordanian project. I must say that it took eight long years to complete this project - the joint venture began its work only in 2013.
The development of this fundamentally new grenade launcher began in 2005 and lasted for two years. For the first time the general public RPG-32 was presented in 2008 at the arms exhibition in Paris, where he had a stunning success. They say that the name "Hashim" was given to a grenade launcher by the Jordanian king Abdullah, after he saw that this new weapon could. “Hashim” is the generic name of the entire royal dynasty of Jordan and also of the prophet Muhammad. Rumor has it that His Majesty personally developed the requirements for a new grenade launcher and what happened was completely satisfied.
Currently, this grenade launcher is produced in Jordan. At the end of 2013, the production of these weapons was solemnly opened at the JRESCO plant. Mexico was seriously interested in this grenade launcher and is now negotiating. Brazil has also shown interest in these weapons. This complex has not yet been adopted by the Russian army.
RPG-32 "Hashim" can be called a multi-purpose rocket launcher. Exactly the same weapon is the RPG-7, but "Hashim" performs its tasks on a different, modern level. The main objective of this grenade launcher is the destruction of enemy tanks and armored vehicles, but the RPG-7 can successfully fight the enemy infantry. Moreover, the RPG-32 is the world's first multi-caliber grenade launcher complex, that is, it can fire grenades of various calibers, depending on the chosen target. The RPG-32 has a special system that deceives the active defense of the tank. It produces a false ammunition, on which the defense is triggered, at the time when the grenade hits the target.
The grenade launcher consists of a launching device connected to the sighting device and disposable containers in which there are grenades. After the shot, such a container is thrown away. Containers are assembled and equipped in the factory and the fighter only needs to connect these parts, direct them to the target and fire a shot. Usually a collimator sight is mounted on a grenade launcher, but if you prefer, you can install an optical or night vision sight.
In fact, it is very convenient. The fighter himself chooses for himself exactly the shot that he needs to use in a particular case.
Resource each launcher is two hundred shots.
The grenade launcher is called multifunctional, because it can affect not only enemy armored vehicles, but also long-term gun emplacements, bunkers and infantry in shelters or under the protection of armor. Different types of ammunition are used for this: cumulative (for the destruction of enemy armored vehicles) and thermobaric (for the destruction of manpower and various types of fortifications).
Types of ammunition RPG-32 "Hashim" hand grenade launcher
In fact, the Hashim grenade launcher is simply a trigger with a sighting device. The most important part of this multifunctional combat complex are grenades, which are special launch canisters. It is the newest ammunition and make the RPG-32 "Hashim" the newest grenade launcher of the twenty-first century, which can fight both the most modern tanks and armored vehicles, and hit enemy enemy manpower, as well as bunkers, pillboxes and other shelters.
The RPG-32 uses two types of ammunition: cumulative and thermobaric grenades. Cumulative are intended to destroy armored vehicles, and thermobaric ones are manpower, including in shelters and under armor protection. The grenade launcher also uses two calibers of grenades, both for cumulative and thermobaric ammunition. There are grenades in caliber of 72.5 and 105 millimeters. A cumulative grenade of 72.5 mm caliber has a single warhead, and a cumulative grenade of 105 mm caliber has a tandem one. Tandem warhead reliably penetrates tank armor, even protected by dynamic protection. The first part of the charge undermines the protection, and the second - affects the armor. If we talk about thermobaric grenades, then besides the blast wave, they also have an increased effect of fragments. Especially high power is different ammunition caliber 105 millimeters.
Rockets use a solid propellant jet engine. After ejection from the bore, stabilizers on the tail end of the grenade open, which stabilize the grenade in flight. For better stabilization, the grenade rotates in flight. Also for the RPG-32, high-explosive and fragmentation ammunition and so-called smart ammunition, which operate on the principle of "fired and forgotten", are currently being developed.
Characteristics of the RPG-32 grenade launcher "Hashim"
| Caliber, mm | 105 |
| Starting device length, mm | 360 |
Length of grenade launcher with launch canister, mm | |
| Grenade 72.5 mm caliber | 900 |
| 105 mm caliber grenade | 1200 |
| Mass of starting device with sight, kg | 3 |
Mass grenade launcher with launch container, kg | |
| Grenade 72.5 mm caliber | 6 |
| 105 mm caliber grenade | 10 |
| Sighting range, m | 700 |
Penetration, mm | |
| Grenade 72.5 mm caliber | 440 |
| 105 mm caliber grenade | 650 |
In conclusion, we can say the following, that Russian gunsmiths once again proved their highest level. The RPG-32 is currently the most powerful grenade launcher in the world and is able to cope with any tanks currently in service. This is a weapon of a new generation and a new century, which has no world analogues yet.
