C90-CR (M3)

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C90-CR
C-90
Typeanti-tank weapon
rocket-propelled grenade
Place of originSpain
Service history
In service1990–present
Used bysee Users
WarsYemeni Civil War[1]
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
DesignerInstalaza
ManufacturerInstalaza
Unit cost€2,099 (2022)[2]
Specifications
Mass5.3 kilograms (12 lb)
Length940 millimetres (37 in)[3]
CartridgeTandem HE[4]
Caliber90 millimetres (3.5 in)
Muzzle velocity160 m/sec[5]
Effective firing range350 metres (1,150 ft) (point target)[6]
Maximum firing range700 metres (2,300 ft) (area target)[6]
Sightsfixed 2× optical sight standard

The Instalaza C90 is a 90 millimetres (3.5 inches) disposable, shoulder-fired and one-man operated rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, which can be fitted with a VN38-C night vision device for full night combat capability.[7] It is being used as an infantry-type weapon, with Instalaza also claiming it to be the, "lightest infantry weapons system in its class".[6][8]

Variants[edit]

C90CR (on the right).

The following are variants produced by Instalaza:[7]

  • C90-CR (M3) – equipped with hollow-charge warhead of different types, has armour penetration of 400 millimetres (16 inches).[4]
  • C90-CR-RB (M3.5) and the C-90-CR-RB (M3) – equipped with hollow-charge warhead, has armour penetration of 500 millimetres (20 inches).
  • C90-CR-AM (M3.5) – also has a shaped head charge, but with a special body that provides anti-personnel fragmentation
  • C90-CR-FIM (M3.5) – contains more than 1.3 kilograms (2.9 pounds) of red phosphorus composition, producing incendiary effects and smoke
  • C90-CR-BK (M3.5) – has a tandem warhead precursor for anti-bunker / building fortifications; the warhead pierces the walls and goes through the wall before it explodes inside the interior.
  • C-90-CR-IN (M3) – is a training model with inert warhead.

Operational history[edit]

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine[edit]

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Spanish government, like other Western governments, sent Ukraine shipments of weapons, equipment, ammunition, and vehicles, including numerous C90 grenade launchers.[9][10] There are images of at least one Russian infantry fighting vehicle being destroyed by a C-90 near Dronivka.[11][12]

Users[edit]

Map with C90-CR (M3) users in blue.
 Brunei
 Colombia
 Ecuador
 El Salvador
 Estonia[13]
 Georgia /  Georgia[14]
 Indonesia
  • Indonesian Army — in use with the infantry units and Special Forces; versions C-90CR antiarmor, C-90-CR-RB (M3), C-90AM antipersonnel and C-90BK bunker buster
 India
 Italy
  • Italian Army — in use with Special Forces; versions C-90CR antiarmor, C-90AM antipersonnel and C-90BK bunker buster
 Kuwait
 Malaysia
 Portugal
 Saudi Arabia
 Spain[4]
 Ukraine[17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Research Report No. 6: Spanish C90-CR rocket launchers & Alhambra hand grenades in Yemen". Armament Research Services (ARES). 30 August 2016.
  2. ^ Salvador, Antonio (3 March 2022). "Así son los lanzagranadas 'made in Zaragoza' que España enviará a la resistencia ucraniana". El Independiente (in Spanish). Madrid, Spain. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  3. ^ the first C90-C and C90-C-AM were 840 millimetres (33 in) in length; the C90-CR versions increased to 940 millimetres (37 in) for the larger rocket motor; and the C90-CR(M3) increased the length to 983 millimetres (38.7 in); i.e. showing the increase length with addition of shock-bumpers on the front and rear of the launcher
  4. ^ a b c "OPFOR Worldwide Equipment Guide" (PDF). FAS.org. September 2001. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  5. ^ "Instalaza C90". MilitaryFactory.com. Military Factory. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "C90-CR (M3), the lightest infantry weapon system in its class". Instalaza. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b "C-90-CR (M3)". usuarios.multimania.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 9 January 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  8. ^ "La Empresa". Instalaza.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  9. ^ "Los lanzagranadas C-90 enviados por España ya están en manos de los soldados ucranianos". Elmundo.es (in Spanish). El Mundo. 9 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Los lanzagranadas C-90 enviados por Pedro Sánchez ya están en manos del Ejército ucraniano". ElEspanol.com (in Spanish). El Español. 7 March 2022.
  11. ^ "El lanzagranadas español C90 en Ucrania: 1.400 unidades, tres meses destruyendo tanques". EPE.es (in Spanish). El Periódico de España. 2 June 2022.
  12. ^ "BMP ruso destruido por un lanzagranadas Instalaza c90 español en Dronivka por fuerzas especiales ucranianas". elperiodico.com (in Spanish). El Periódico. 1 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Estonian Ministry of Defence". MoD.gov.ee. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  14. ^ "Saqartvelos tavdacvis Ministri espanuri tanksawinaagmdego sistemebis sachvenebel swavlebas daeswro". MoD.gov.ge (in ge).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  15. ^ "Spanish LAW RFB". MalaysianDefence.com.
  16. ^ MEGA REPORTAGEM FORÇA AÉREA PORTUGUESA. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Spain to send grenade launchers and machine guns to Ukraine, minister says". Reuters. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Instalaza C-90.
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