Data Quality87%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the incendiary & napalm bombs category.
01 / Overview
RPO-A Shmel
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1986–
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
INCENDIARY & NAPALM BOMBS · COLD WAR
1
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
78
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the incendiary & napalm bombs category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- Munition Typerocket-assisted thermobaric projectile
- Service Entry Year1986
- Total Weight11 kg
- Length0.92 m
- Diameter93 mm
- In ServiceYes
◈Guidance1MOD.1
- GuidedNo
▣Warhead & Effect3MOD.3
- Warhead Typethermobaric
- Filler Typethermobaric mixture
- Thermobaric / Fuel-AirYes
◇Delivery1MOD.1
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1945First deployment: Cold War
- 1984Entered service
- 1986Production started
40
years in service
11
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 4 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
RPO-A SHMEL · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win·33% ongoing·33% loss
Total Conflicts
3
Victories
0
Ongoing
1
Losses
1
2001–2021War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)—→1989–insurgency in Jammu and KashmirOngoing→1979–1989Soviet-Afghan WarDecisive victory→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Countries15country
06 / MASS Score
INCENDIARY & NAPALM BOMBS RANKING Incendiary & Napalm Bombs · Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
15INCENDIARY & NAPALM BOMBS1COLD WAR · INCENDIARY & NAPALM BOMBS195RUSSIA · ALL WEAPONS8PERFORMANCE/PRICE · INCENDIARY & NAPALM BOMBS
ⓘ Rankings are within theIncendiary & Napalm Bombscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE1terms
Thermobaric or fuel-air munitions disperse and ignite an aerosol cloud of fuel, creating a high-temperature, high-pressure explosion with prolonged blast effects.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources