RPG - 7 The RPG - 7 is a Russian anti - tank rocket launcher created by the Soviet Union in 1961 as an improvement of the RPG - 2 , it could be considered one of the most successful rocket launchers in the world . Description . The RPG - 7 is a further development of the previous RPG - 2 antitank grenade launcher . RPG - 7 , in its first version , known as RPG - 7V , has been adopted by Soviet army in 1961 , and still is widely fielded in Russia and at least 50 more countries . By far , RPG - 7 can be considered as one of the most successful antitank grenade launchers ever made . Initially thought as an anti - armor weapon , it latter has been adopted for other fire - support missions by introduction of various types of grenades , such as anti - infantry HE - FRAG , multi - purpose Thermobaric / FAE , and some other types of ammunition . The antitank grenades for RPG - 7 also came a long way , from original PG - 7V grenade , with penetration of about 260mm / 10inches of RHA , and up to 500mm / 20inches of RHAor 1 . 5 meters / 5 ft of brick wall with single - warhead PG - 7VL grenade , developed in 1977 . By the late 1980s , a tandem - type PG - 7VR grenade has been introduced . This grenade has two warheads and is intended against the most modern tanks , fitted with ERA ( Explosive Reactive Armor ) . Front warhead sets off the ERA , and second warhead then penetrates more than 600mm / 24in of armor . The RPG - 7 is a shoulder fired , single - shot , smoothbore recoilless launcher . Grenades are loaded from the front , and the rear of the barrel is fitted with venturi nozzle . Because of the recoilless design , there is a dangerous backblast zone , more than 20 meters / 60 ft long . The antitank grenades are of combination type , using a charge of smokeless powder for RCL - type launch . Once grenade reaches safe distance from the shooter ( about 10 – 20 meters ) , the built - in rocket booster engine ignites and further accelerates the grenade , greatly enhancing the effective range ( up to 500 + meters for single warhead grenades , up to200 + meters for much heavier tandem or FAE grenades ) . Because of increase in range , RPG - 7 is usually issued with 2 . 7X fixed magnification optical sight , designated PGO - 7 . The sight has a range - finding scale for typical targets ( tanks ) with height of 2 . 7m / 9 ft , and windage adjustment scales . RPG - 7 also fitted with backup iron sights . RPG - 7 uses mechanical ignition system with manually cocked external hammer , and a single - action trigger . Because of this , grenade must be properly aligned with the firing mechanism upon loading . Each AT grenade consists of a large - caliber HEAT warhead with base fuze , with the 40mm diameter rocket engine behind . The rocket nozzles are located at the front of the engine , close to the warhead . The tail of the rocket is fitted with folding stabiliztator fins , which are extended when grenade leaves the barrel . The launch charge , made of black powder , is loaded into a combustible cardboard case , and attached to the rear of the grenade prior to loading into launcher . Grenades and launch charges are carried in special backpacks . By the original soviet standards , grenadier carries two rounds , and his assistant carries three more . There were several minor upgrades to the basic design of the RPG - 7 in USSR and Russia , the most important being the RPG - 7D , with two - part takedown barrel , which was issued to the airborne troops . Since RPG - 7 was , and still is manufactured in many countries ( such as Bulgaria , China , Iraq and Romania , to name a few ) , there are plenty of modifications in launcher , and , more important , in grenades . RPG - 7 is a simple and inexpensive weapon , yet it possess a high threat to most modern tanks , and also can serve in a number of other roles , making it a true one - man artillery .