F.I. – Russia Dominant in Soldier-Portable Rockets Through 2018

RPG-27 Back in December 2005, “Russia to Dominate $5.33B Portable Anti-Armor Market Through 2014” covered analyst firm Forecast International’s global predictions for man-portable, unguided, anti-tank and bunker-buster weapons. In January 2009, the firm’s rolling forecast sees the market’s value holding steady at “over $5 billion” over the next 10 years, still sees Russia as the dominant player, and still sees European players grabbing a dollar share that outweighs their market share. Compared with 2005, however, there is a rising contender. Forecast International sees Russian weapons accounting for 59.3% of global production in this segment, and 46.5% of the market’s dollar value through 2018. (2005: 68% of production and over 51% of market value through 2014)… RPG-7 These weapons include the advanced RPG-26 and RPG-27, with 44.6% of production and 25.5% of market value by themselves. The RPG-27 includes a dual warhead option to defeat reactive armor; and these new rockets can also come as “thermobaric” fuel-air explosive (RShG1/RPG-27 and RShG2/RPG-26) rounds for use in caves and buildings, or as a wide area-effect weapon on open ground. Proliferation of these weapons will have an effect on the balance of land power, allowing regular and irregular troops to face off against main […]