IDEX 2023: a Raptor from Jadara
Leveraging the work done on the RPG-32 Nashshab, produced under licence in Jordan but originated from Russian Bazalt, Jadara Equipment & Defence Systems, the Jordanian military-industrial company, exhibited at IDEX its wholly national antitank rocket launcher known as Raptor. According to information obtained, the Raptor is currently undergoing final tests in Jordan, which should be completed in June. Production should then start, as at SOFEX Jordan 2022 the Jordanian Army Chief of Staff declared that the new weapon system will be fielded in 2024.
The Raptor maintains the same architecture of the Nashshab, with a front launcher element to which the ammunition is fitted at the back. On the left of the launcher the GS-2R day sight, which includes a laser rangefinder, is fitted. For night operations the NV/A-1 night sight can be added. Both those sighting systems are the same used on the RPG-32, which reduces costs and logistic footprint should an Army using the Nashshab decide to acquire the Raptor. According to Jadara the launcher can withstand 200 firings.
Two types of ammunition are being developed in parallel, the antitank one, with a tandem shaped charge warhead, and the thermobaric one. Compared to the RPG-32 the ammunition calibre is slightly bigger, 107 mm versus 105 mm, as well as the effective range, 500 meters versus 350 meters (the RPG-32 having a declared maximum range of 700 meters for both grenades). Minimum engagement range is 50 meters, a key data when fighting in urban areas. Penetration after explosive reactive armour is in excess of 500 mm rolled homogeneous armour (that of the RPG-32 was of over 650 mm). No data were provided for penetration against concrete and brick walls, as well as on effects of the thermobaric warhead, which round will have the same range of the antitank one.
The Raptor is shorter than the Nashshab, 1,073 mm versus 1,200 mm, while the weight seems to be higher, 14 kg versus 12.4 kg of the RG-32, however it is unclear if both weight figures include the sights or not.
Photos courtesy P. Valpolini
