Family of Weapons for ‘Tuneable’ Effect
Since the invasion of Ukraine, the topic of anti-tank defence is on everyone’s lips again. One of the best effectors on the ground is the RGW 90 (Recoilless Grenade Weapon) from Dynamit Nobel Defence (DND).
DND calls this shoulder-launched weapon system a ‘game changer’ on its website, saying “The RGW 90 family is the ultimate infantry toolkit for surviving on complex battlefields in combat. The system provides dismounted forces with a complete toolbox of shoulder-launched effects to dominate the theatre of operations through fire and range superiority. The effectors of the RGW 90 family are effective against all types of threats, in all operational scenarios and under all environmental conditions.” Visitors to FIDAE this week can learn more in person.
Various versions are available: anti-tank (RGW 90 HH-T; HEAT/HESH -Tandem); anti-structure (RGW90 ASM); RGW90 LRMP (Long Range Multipurpose – effector against vehicles, soft and personnel targets); RGW 89 Smoke (phosphorus smoke ammunition); RGW 90 ILLUM (illuminating ammunition in white light and infrared) and training ammunition. The family is already in use worldwide, including in the German armed forces, the Netherlands, Belgium, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. There are also said to be users in South America, but so far Chile is not one of them. In some countries it is also known as Matador. Mexico’s special forces use the RGW 60, but whether the RGW 90 is also part of the arsenal remains unconfirmed. Argentina could also be a user, as DND conducted several workshops there in 2016.
In Germany, the first user was the Kommando Spezialkräfte (Special Forces), which uses the multi-role RGW 90 Spreng (HE) MZ DM11 to engage soft and lightly-armoured single targets. In addition to this explosive/multipurpose ammunition, the ASM, Smoke, ILLUM-IR and Training versions were also procured. Ukraine is currently being supplied with the RGW 90 HH-T. This has a weight of about 8kg and a length of 0.96m (1.15m in HEAT mode with stand-off tube extended). It can be effective against armoured targets (penetration >700mm RHA, or >600mm RHA behind explosive reactive armour – ERA) at a combat range of 20-600 metres. In the HH-T (Tandem) variant, the weapon is also effective against ERA – an important consideration, since such armour figures on many Russian combat vehicles. DND states the RGW 90 HH-T can is also effective against structural targets, e.g. to penetrate a triple brick wall. Recoilless, shoulder-fired and operated by one person, the weapon can also be used from enclosed spaces (from 15m³ room volume), and used with standard optics or optionally with a fire control sight, even at night, thanks to additional night vision and thermal optics.
André Forkert reporting from FIDAE for MON
