Alcotán-100 is a recoilless, one-man portable, single-use (firing control unit is reusable) anti-tank rocket launcher system used by infantry, manufactured by Instalaza.[1][3] The firing control unit predicts the future aiming point based on calculation before the rocket fire.[1] It is being used as an infantry-type weapon and fireable from confined spaces. Instalaza claiming it to be, "the highest performance in unguided shoulder launched systems".[1] It is in service with the Spanish Armed Forces and exported to other countries.
| Alcotán-100 | |
|---|---|
 Single use launcher attached with the reusable VOSEL firing control unit | |
| Type | PLOS (predicted line of sight) based unguided anti-tank rocket launcher system[1] |
| Place of origin | Spain |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Instalaza SA |
| Unit cost | Approx. 17,500 ~ 24,500 $ [2] |
| Produced | 1998–present |
| Variants | |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 14 kg (31 lb)[3] |
| Length | 1.15 m (3.8 ft) |
| Crew | 1 |
| Caliber | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Effective firing range | 600 m (2,000 ft) |
| Sights | Telescopic sight with night vision |
| Warhead | |
| Blast yield | 700 mm (28 in) penetration (ERA + armour steel) |
| Propellant | Solid-fuel rocket |
Guidance system | PLOS (Predicted Line Of Sight) |
Launch platform | Man-portable launcher |
The ALCOTAN-100 shoulder launched weapon system has been deployed successfully in several conflicts around the World.
History
editProduction of the Alcotán-100 began in 1998.[4]
Description
editThe Alcotán-100 fires a 100 mm (3.9 in) HEAT charge, in addition to HE/FRAG and HEDP (dual-purpose) rounds, and the weapon can be fired from confined spaces. The weapon also has a laser range finder and a ballistic computer; this firing control unit must be turned on before the weapon can be operated.[4]
VOSEL Fire System
editThe VOSEL fire control unit is available in two different versions, VOSEL (M2) and VOSEL (M2)-IR.[1] The VOSEL (M2) fire system gives the Alcotán-100 (M2) a high hit probability. It incorporates night vision that allows the operator to identify a target up to 1,200 metres in the night, a laser rangefinder with a range up to 2,000 metres and a ballistic computer.[3] After calculating the lead of the moving target, the computer will shows the gunner the future aiming point. The soldier then uses the aiming point to a hit. This mechanism reduces the reaction time and maximize the hit probability.[1]
The VOSEL fire system can be used separately from the launcher tube as a night surveillance telemetric device.[3]
Specifications
edit
- Calibre: 100 mm
- Length: 1.15 m
- Weight:
- Range:[1]
- 30 m to 600 m point target for the ALCOTAN-AT (M2), ALCOTAN-BIV (M2), ALCOTAN-ABK (M2) and ALCOTAN-MP (M2)
- >1,000 m for ALCOTAN-BIV (M2) (area target) and 1,000 m for ALCOTAN-MP (M2) (airbust)
- Engine: Solid-fuel rocket
- Penetration:[1]
- Anti-tank ALCOTAN-AT (M2): 700 mm (explosive reactive armour + armour steel)
- Dual purpose ALCOTAN-BIV (M2): 400 mm (armour steel) along with >1000 fragments
- Anti-bunker ALCOTAN-ABK (M2): 350 mm (concrete, ∅ >50 mm for 2nd warhead follow-through) along with >2500 fragments inside bunker, 170 mm (armour steel)
- Multi-purpose ALCOTAN-MP (M2): Effective against light armour and brick walls, >3000 fragments (airbust)
Users
editCurrent operators
edit
- Bangladesh Army: ALCOTAN-AT (M2) and ALCOTAN-BIV (M2) along with VOSEL (M2) firing control units.[6]
- Border Guard Bangladesh: ALCOTAN-100 along with VOSEL (M2) firing control units.[7]
See also
edit- List of rocket launchers
- NLAW – (Sweden, United Kingdom)
- FGM-172 SRAW – (United States)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i "ALCOTAN-100 (M2), the highest performance in unguided shoulder launched systems". Instalaza. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ PAKISTAN’S ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILE REQUIREMENTS https://quwa.org/2019/10/27/pakistans-anti-tank-guided-missile-requirements-2/
- ^ a b c d e "ALCOTAN-100" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
- ^ a b Malory, Marcia. "Spain - Alcotán-100 Weapon System - Anti Tank Weapons". Army Tanks. tanks.net. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ Twitter https://twitter.com/jeremybinnie/status/1093457616813129728. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Bangladesh Army Special Forces adopt Spanish anti-tank rocket launchers". February 2022.
- ^ "Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) adopts Spanish anti-tank weapons". 12 February 2022.
- ^ Khan, Bilal (22 May 2017). "Pakistan acquired Instalaza Alcotán-100 anti-tank rocket systems". Quwa. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ "Future of Alcotan-100 Hangs on Spanish Army Procurement". defense-aerospace.com. 9 July 2010. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2010 – via Forecast International.
- ^ "Unknown title" (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2011. [permanent dead link]
- ^ Cruz Tantalean, Cesar (4 August 2013). Written at Lima, Peru. "Peru receives, displays new anti-tank weapons". Janes. Coulsdon, United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ Toro, Carlos (4 March 2022). "Las armas que envía España a Ucrania, de bajo calibre y nada de misiles tierra-aire". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2022.