Modern Flamethrowers

[Eknytz]

I know that the DoD unilaterally discontinued flamethrower use for all branches of the US Military in 1978 but are there any other militaries that still use or have flamethrowers in inventory?

[sergey31]

Fuel-air (aka thermobaric munition) is in a way modern flame thrower.

Soviets and now Russians have perfected it, from large rockets to single use portable infantry launchers. RPO-A Shmel (Bumblebee) is on example. It's more affective and devastating then traditional flamethrower.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybpr3g0v7_8

[GazB]

The Soviets had the LPO-50 in service right up to the 1980s at least, but the main problems with conventional flame throwers is that they burn a lot of fuel on the way to the target and of course their limited range of 40m or so max for man portable weapons.

According to the KBP website: ie http://www.kbptula.ru/eng/kbp/rusarmy.htm

They have introduced the BMO-1 flame-thrower combat vehicle in 2001, the LPO-97 light infantry flame-thrower in 2002, the PDM-A Priz infantry rocket-propelled flame-thrower of increased range and enhanced lethality in air-fuel round version in 2003, and the Varna infantry jet flame-thrower in 2005.

I should also mention their standard reloadable RPG launchers (RPG-7 and RPG-29) can both fire FAE rounds, in addition to the RPO series of 93mm rocket launchers there is also the MPO and LPO which fire medium and light versions of the same weapon that are lighter and easier to carry but have a shorter range.