The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has standardised the Alcotan-100 (M2) manufactured by Instalaza of Spain.
This comes as the Bangladesh Army recently disclosed it standardised the Alcotan-100 (M2) for its Special Forces and airborne para-infantry battalions.
The Alcotan-100 (M2) is to replace the Type 69-1 RPGs, which are currently in service at platoon level but have been declared ‘obsolete’ pending replacement by more capable anti-tank weapons.
Unlike the Type 69-1 RPG the Alcotan-100 is a single-use weapon however, the VOSEL (M2) fire control system is reusable making it extremely versatile on the battlefield for employment by tank hunting teams and during urban warfare because it is also capable of being fired from enclosed spaces unlike Carl Gustaf M4, which were previously also evaluated by the Bangladesh Army as a possible replacement for the Chinese-made RPGs.
The Alcotan-100 can fire 100 mm calibre HEAT, HE/FRAG, and HEDP rounds. Its VOSEL (M2) fire control unit is equipped with a laser range finder and a ballistic computer. The FCU must be turned on before the weapon can be operated to ensure a high hit probability.
The FCU can be used at night allowing the operator to identify a target at 1,200 m, while the LRF and ballistic computer have a maximum range of 2,000 m. The FCU can calculate the lead of the moving target, showing the operator the future aiming point. This allows the operator to aim ahead of the target reducing reaction time and maximising hit probability. Additionally, the VOSEL (M2) FCU can be used separately as a night surveillance telemetric device, thereby enhancing the operational capability of the infantry or Special Forces platoon.
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is procuring:
- ALCOTAN-100 (M2) rounds: ALCOTAN-AT (M2), ALCOTAN-BIV (M2) and ALCOTAN-ABK (M2)
- VOSEL (M2) Fire Control Unit (FCU)
- TR-ALC (M2) subcalibre trainer for firing range
- Instalaza Control Computer Component & simulator software
- EAS (M2)-ALC Ammunition, Structure and Peripherals for Alcotan-100 (M2)
- Simulated Fire Control Unit Component (SAARA) for Alcotan-100 (M2)
Besides, the Alcotan-100 (M2) anti-tank/anti-bunker weapon, the BGB also inducted the RK-3 Corsar portable anti-tank guided missile with complete HEAD and HE-FRAG warheads and training simulators for battalion level deployment.
