What RPG Does the US Military Use?
Rocket-propelled grenades, commonly known as RPGs, have been a key anti-armor weapon in the United States military‘s inventory for decades. Since the Vietnam War introduction of the M72 LAW, RPGs have evolved from short-range single shot weapons into sophisticated guided missile systems capable of defeating modern tanks. This article will provide an in-depth overview of the major RPG systems the US military employs on the battlefield along with an analysis of their capabilities and relevance in the evolving landscape of modern combined arms warfare.
A Brief History of Military RPGs
Shoulder-fired anti-tank weapons emerged during World War II as a response to more heavily armored tanks that standard infantry rifles could not penetrate. The first mass produced man-portable anti-tank weapon was the Panzerfaust developed by Germany in 1943. It consisted of a simple single shot recoilless launcher firing a shaped charge warhead with around 200mm of armor penetration.
Over 10 million Panzerfausts were built during the war and the concept was rapidly adapted by the United States in the form of the Bazooka, one of the first generalized term for an individual anti-armor rocket launcher. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union became the leading innovator in RPG technology starting with the RPG-2 in 1949. Soviet weapons like the RPG-7 saw widespread proliferation and copying by allied states.
The proxy battles of the Cold War spurred advancement in RPG capabilities. Heavier warheads, improved rocket motors, optical sights, and even early guided missiles were fielded. By the 1980s, guided weapons like the American Javelin offered fire-and-forget capability and dramatically increased penetration versus armor. Yet simple, low-cost RPGs like the RPG-7 remain in widespread use by insurgent groups today due to their availability.
Light One-shot Launchers: M72 LAW and AT4
The greatest strengths of RPGs have always been their portability, simplicity of use, and relatively low cost. These factors make single shot disposable RPG launchers like the M72 LAW and AT4 ideal for equipping large infantry formations.
The M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) entered US Army service in 1963 and was used extensively during the Vietnam War with over 2.5 million fielded. The M72 weighed just 5.5 lbs loaded yet could penetrate around 300mm of rolled homogeneous steel armor at close ranges. It proved effective against light armor, field fortifications, and buildings but struggled against modern main battle tanks. An upgraded M72A3 fielded from 1978-1984 improved performance to 400mm RHA penetration.
The AT4 entered service in 1987 and replaced the M72 LAW as the US infantry‘s standard light anti-armor weapon. It utilized a more effective 84mm warhead compared to the 66mm M72 and achieved penetration of up to 500mm RHA, adequate against most armored personnel carriers and older tanks. The AT4 launch tube was constructed of fiberglass, reducing weight to 6.7lbs while increasing accuracy and range to 300m effective. Over 1.5 million AT4s have been built and they equip infantry formations to this day.
Guided Heavy RPGs: The Javelin Missile
By the 1980s, main battle tanks with composite and reactive armors were impervious to standard light RPG warheads. To address this, the US military adopted more advanced guided anti-tank missiles including the FGM-148 Javelin starting in 1996. The fire-and-forget Javelin used an imaging infrared seeker enabling locks before launch, unlike earlier wire guided systems.
With its tandem HEAT warheads, the Javelin missile achieved penetration in excess of 600mm RHA against targets at 75 to 2,500 meters range. Vehicle mounted versions offered up to 4,000 meter range. The multi-million dollar Javelins were pricier than disposable RPGs but their accuracy, standoff range, and lethality made them deadlier against modern tanks. The US military has also adopted the guided Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle that can utilize a guided tandem warhead rocket with similar capabilities as the Javelin.
Foreign RPGs: The RPG-7 and Its Progeny
While the US military developed its own indigenous RPG systems, by far the most produced and proliferated RPG is the Soviet-designed RPG-7. First fielded in 1961, the reusable RPG-7 weighed just 15 lbs loaded and could penetrate around 330mm RHA, adequate against most light armor of the era. It was distributed extensively to Soviet allies and saw use around the globe.
Modern versions of the RPG-7 including the PG-7VR tandem HEAT round can achieve up to 600mm penetration. The RPG-7‘s simplicity, durability, affordability and effectiveness has made it ubiquitous in conflict zones from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. Extremist and insurgent groups continue to use RPG-7s and its descendants like the RPG-29 as an effective armor-destroying tool even against modern tanks like the M1 Abrams. When fielded in mass, upgraded RPG-7s remain a persistent low-tech threat.
The Ongoing Relevance of RPGs
While guided missiles like the Javelin now provide superior anti-armor firepower, simple RPGs like the AT4 and RPG-7 aren‘t going away anytime soon. Even with the growing shift towards Active Protection Systems and advanced armored fighting vehicles, man-portable RPGs retain key advantages.
Their compact size, simplicity of operation, limited maintenance, and low cost makes them ideal for equipping large infantry formations and insurgents alike. RPGs can quickly destroy lighter vehicles, field fortifications, infrastructure, bunkers, buildings, and low flying helicopters. Guided weapons remain expensive and complex in comparison.
Looking to the future, emerging technologies like loitering munitions, counter-drone weapons, and AI-enabled detection systems could curb the effectiveness of simple RPG-type launchers. But until lightweight, cost-effective guided weapons reach the infantry squad level, traditional RPGs will continue to play an indispensable close range anti-armor and anti-fortification role. Their conceptual origins dating back to primitive gunpowder rockets ensures RPGs have remained relevant on the battlefield for generations, with no expectation that infantry will abandon shoulder-fired rockets anytime soon.