Alcotán-100

Alcotán-100
Single use launcher attached with the reusable VOSEL firing control unit
Type	Predicted line of sight (PLOS) anti-tank shoulder-launched missile weapon 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	ALCOTAN-AT (M2) munition: Anti-tank behind ERA ALCOTAN-BIV (M2) munition: Dual purpose (anti-armour + fragmentation) ALCOTAN-ABK (M2) munition: Anti-bunker ALCOTAN-MP (M2) munition: Multi-purpose, three different modes (impact, impact delay and airburst)
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	HEAT HE/FRAG HEDP
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

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.

The ALCOTAN-100 shoulder launched weapon system has been deployed successfully in several conflicts around the World.

History

Production of the Alcotán-100 began in 1998.[4]

Description

The 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

The 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

Cutaway model of the Alcotán-100

• Calibre: 100 mm
• Length: 1.15 m
• Weight:
  • Launcher with projectile:[1] 10.5 kg ALCOTAN-AT (M2), 10 kg ALCOTAN-BIV (M2), 9.8 kg ALCOTAN-ABK (M2), 10.3 kg ALCOTAN-MP (M2)
  • Fire system: 4.5 kg[3]
• 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

Current operators

 Bahrain

• Bahrain Defence Force[5]

 Bangladesh

• 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.[6]

 Pakistan

• Pakistan Armed Forces[7]

 Peru

• Special Forces[8][9]
• Cavalry and mountain infantry units, with 74 launchers with 660 rockets.[10]

 Spain

• Spanish Armed Forces

 Ukraine

• Armed Forces of Ukraine.[11]

See also

• List of rocket launchers
• NLAW – (Sweden, United Kingdom)
• FGM-172 SRAW – (United States)

References

1. "ALCOTAN-100 (M2), the highest performance in unguided shoulder launched systems". Instalaza. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
2. PAKISTAN’S ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILE REQUIREMENTS https://quwa.org/2019/10/27/pakistans-anti-tank-guided-missile-requirements-2/
3. "ALCOTAN-100" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
4. 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.
5. Twitter https://twitter.com/jeremybinnie/status/1093457616813129728. Retrieved 1 May 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
6. Alain Henry de Frahan (27 March 2024). "El Ejército de Bangladesh adquiere armamento antitanque español Alcotan-100" [Bangladesh Army acquires Spanish Alcotan-100 anti-tank weapons]. Galaxia Miltar (in Spanish). Spain. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
7. 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.
8. "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.
9. "Unknown title" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
10. 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.
11. 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.