Ukrainian Military Adopts KRAMPUS Robotic Flamethrower System

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has approved the domestically developed KRAMPUS mobile robotic flamethrower strike system for use by the Armed Forces, according to the ministry’s press service.

The KRAMPUS platform is designed for both offensive and defensive operations.

Being compact and lightweight, it can be transported in the back of a pickup truck, van, or on a trailer.

The system features two silent electric motors and a tracked chassis, enabling it to navigate difficult terrain, including off-road areas, forested zones, sand, swamps, and steep inclines.

The vehicle is remotely operated via channels resistant to electronic warfare interference.

It functions in all weather conditions — heat, cold, snow, and rain — and its battery allows for several hours of autonomous operation, maintaining readiness while idle.

The ground platform is equipped with surveillance cameras and a combat module armed with RPV-16 infantry flamethrowers, designed to destroy enemy personnel, fortifications, and lightly armored vehicles.

The RPV-16 is a Ukrainian-made infantry flamethrower that disperses an aerosol cloud with a 7–8 meter diameter upon detonation.
After 0.2 seconds, the cloud ignites, creating a fireball with temperatures reaching 2,500°C and generating overpressure.

A single RPV-16 round is comparable in effect to a 122 mm artillery shell. The warhead also has a fragmentation component, increasing its lethality against enemy personnel.

The weapon’s effective range using a standard diopter sight is 600 meters, with a maximum range of up to 1 km.

The flamethrower weighs 11 kg including the warhead, while the launch tube measures 900 mm in length and has a 93 mm internal diameter.