RPG-26 explained

The RPG-26 Aglen is a disposable anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher developed by the Soviet Union. It fires a one-stage rocket with jack-knife fins, which unfold after launch. The rocket carries a 72.5mm diameter high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) single shaped charge warhead able to penetrate of armour, of reinforced concrete or of brickwork. It has a maximum effective range of around . The similar sized rocket features a slightly heavier and more powerful HEAT warhead and more powerful rocket engine. The limited extension of the RPG-22 launch tube was found of little use. Thus, the RPG-26 has a rigid non-telescoping launch tube.

Variants

The RShG-2 (Russian: Russian: Реактивная Штурмовая Граната, Reaktivnaya Shturmovaya Granata, Rocket-propelled Assault Grenade) Aglen-2 (Аглень-2) is a RPG-26 variant with thermobaric warhead. RShG-2 is heavier than the RPG-26 at and has a reduced direct fire range of . It is intended for use against infantry and structures rather than armoured vehicles.

The warhead contains of thermobaric mixture, with an explosive yield roughly equal to that of of trinitrotoluene (TNT). The solid rocket booster of the warhead was taken from the RPG-26 and the fuse taken from the TBG-7 warhead used by the RPG-7. The warhead has a stated penetration ability of of concrete and of brickwork.

Operators

Current operators

• Armenia^[1]
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus^[2]
• China - RShG-2 variant
• Georgia - domestic variant PDM-1^{[3] [4]}
• ^[5]
• Jordan - 3,000 in possession
• ^[6]
• ^[7]
  • - RShG-2 variant

Former operators

Further reading

• Web site: РПГ-26 "Аглень" (Россия) . RPG-26 "Aglen" . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220328161557/http://jollyroger666.narod.ru/granatomet/rpg26_Aglen.html . 2022-03-28 . 2022-04-02 . Jolly Roger . ru.
• Web site: Popenker . Maxim . RPG-26 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220301012030/https://modernfirearms.net/en/grenade-launchers/russia-grenade-launchers/rpg-26-eng/ . 2022-03-01 . 2022-04-02 . Modern Firearms . en.
• Web site: Средства ближнего боя: Открытое акционерное общество «Научно-производственное обьединение «Базальт» . Melee weapons: Open Joint Stock Company "Research and Production Association Basalt" . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20211219065135/http://bazalt.ru/ru/sredstva_blizhnego_boya1/ . 2021-12-19 . 2022-04-02 . . ru.
• Web site: RPG-26 Aglen . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220125033230/https://weaponsystems.net/system/1071-BB04%20-%20RPG-26 . 2022-01-25 . 2022-04-02 . Weaponsystems.net . en.

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2018-08-10 . Российское оружие в Армении . Russian weapons in Armenia . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220328161605/https://nvo.ng.ru/armament/2018-08-10/3_1008_subject.html . 2022-03-28 . 2022-04-02 . Russian: Независимая газета . ru.
2. News: Mizokami . Kyle . Belarus Invents Tank-Killing Quadcopter Drone . 2 March 2024 . Popular Mechanics . 5 June 2018.
3. Web site: SDC Delta: Small Arms . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200129130941/http://www.delta.gov.ge/file/2016/10/small-arm-a4.compressed.pdf . 2020-01-29 . 2022-04-02 . . en.
4. Web site: Single-shot Grenade Launcher PDM-1 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171229232513/http://www.delta.gov.ge/en/product/pdm-1/ . 2017-12-29 . 2017-12-29 . . en.
5. Williams . Ian . Shaikh . Shaan . Appendix: The Houthi Missile Arsenal . The Missile War in Yemen . 2020 . 34–52 . 19 August 2024 . Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
6. Book: Ferguson, Jonathan . Raising Red Flags: An Examination of Arms & Munitions in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine, 2014 . Jenzen-Jones . N.R. . November 2014 . Armament Research Services . 978-0-9924624-3-7 . Research Report 3 . 26,48 . en . 2022-04-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220302222538/https://armamentresearch.com/Uploads/Research%20Report%20No.%203%20-%20Raising%20Red%20Flags.pdf . 2022-03-02 . live.
7. Web site: Toumaj . Amir . 2016-10-14 . Russian influence evident in Palestinian militia in Syria . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220328161604/https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/10/russian-influence-evident-in-palestinian-militia-in-syria.php . 2022-03-28 . 2016-11-28 . Long War Journal . en.