C90-CR (M3)

C90-CR
C-90
Type	anti-tank weapon rocket-propelled grenade predicted line of sight (PLOS)
Place of origin	Spain
Service history
In service	1990–present
Used by	see Users
Wars	Yemeni Civil War (2014-present)[1] Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designer	Instalaza
Manufacturer	Instalaza
Unit cost	€2,099 (2022)[2]
Specifications
Mass	5.3 kilograms (12 lb)
Length	940 millimetres (37 in)[3]
Cartridge	Tandem HE[4]
Caliber	90 millimetres (3.5 in)
Muzzle velocity	160 m/sec[5]
Effective firing range	350 metres (1,150 ft) (point target)[6]
Maximum firing range	700 metres (2,300 ft) (area target)[6]
Sights	fixed 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

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

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

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

Map with C90-CR (M3) users in blue.

 Brunei

• Royal Brunei Land Force

 Colombia

• Colombian Army

 Ecuador

• Ecuadorian Army

 El Salvador

• Salvadoran Army

 Estonia^[13]

• Estonian Defence Forces

 Georgia^[14]

• Defence Forces of Georgia

 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

• Indian Army − C-90-CR-RB (M3) only

 Italy

• Italian Army − in use with Special Forces; versions C-90CR antiarmor, C-90AM antipersonnel and C-90BK bunker buster

 Kuwait

• Kuwait National Guard

 Malaysia

• Malaysian Army − in service since 1990s; 780 additional units ordered in 2024^[15]

 Portugal

• Portuguese Air Force^[16]

 Saudi Arabia

• Saudi Arabian Army^[17]

 Spain^[4]

• Spanish Army
• Spanish Marines
• Spanish Air Force
• Guardia Civil

 Ukraine^[18]

• Territorial Defence Forces − 1,370 rockets

 Yemen

• Yemeni Armed Forces − Supplied by Saudi Arabia to Pro-Hadi forces^[17]
• Houthis − At least 16 were captured from Saudi or Pro-Hadi forces^[17]

References

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. "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. "C90-CR (M3), the lightest infantry weapon system in its class". Instalaza. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
7. "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 Georgian).
15. "Spanish LAW RFB". MalaysianDefence.com.
16. MEGA REPORTAGEM FORÇA AÉREA PORTUGUESA. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
17. Williams, Ian; Shaikh, Shaan (2020). "Appendix: The Houthi Missile Arsenal". The Missile War in Yemen. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): 34–52. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
18. "Spain to send grenade launchers and machine guns to Ukraine, minister says". Reuters. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.

External links

• Instalaza Homepage