Alcotán-100 – Wikipedia

Alcotán-100
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
Place of origin	Spain
Used by	See Users
Manufacturer	Instalaza SA
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);
Mass	14 kg (31 lb)
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

Spanish anti-tank rocket launcher system

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]^[2] 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.

Table of Contents

History[edit]

Production of the Alcotán-100 began in 1998.^[3]

Description[edit]

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.^[3]

VOSEL Fire System[edit]

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.^[2] 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.^[2]

Specifications[edit]

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^[2]
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)