Russia’s Ministry of Defense published footage of drills with portable flamethrowers in the special op. The troops can be seen firing Mukha RPG-18 anti-tank grenade launchers and Shmel RPO-A portable flamethrowers.
Technically speaking, Schmel is rather a thermobaric rocket launcher with projectiles that explode in a cloud of flame rather than a flamethrower.
Schmel previously underwent its baptism of fire against jihadist militants in various regions of the globe – and some of them even referred to it as “Shaitan-tube” [Devil’s tube] - a nickname that spoke for itself. A Russian soldier, armed with a portable flamethrower, virtually becomes a walking artillery unit capable of eliminating enemies that are hiding even in the most sophisticated fortifications at a distance of up to 800 meters.