FN P90
Encyclopedia
The FN P90 is a selective fire
personal defense weapon
(PDW) designed and manufactured by FN Herstal in Belgium
. The P90's name is taken from 1990, the year it was introduced. The P90 was created in response to NATO requests for a replacement for 9×19mm Parabellum firearms; it was designed as a compact but powerful firearm for vehicle crews, operators of crew-served weapons, support personnel, special forces
and counter-terrorist groups.
The P90 was designed by FN in conjunction with the FN Five-seven pistol and 5.7×28mm ammunition. Development of the P90 began in 1986, and production commenced in 1990, whereupon the 5.7×28mm ammunition was redesigned and shortened. A modified version of the P90 with a magazine adapted to use the new ammunition was introduced in 1993, and the Five-seven pistol was subsequently introduced as a companion weapon using the same 5.7×28mm ammunition.
The P90 was developed and initially marketed as a personal defense weapon
, but it could also be considered a submachine gun
or compact assault rifle
. Featuring a compact bullpup
design with an integrated reflex sight and fully ambidextrous controls, the P90 is an unconventional weapon with a futuristic appearance. Its design incorporates several innovations such as a unique top-mounted magazine and FN's small-caliber, high-velocity
5.7×28mm ammunition.
The P90 is currently in service with military and police forces in over 40 countries, such as Austria
, Brazil
, Canada
, France
, Malaysia, Poland
, and the United States
. In the United States, the P90 is in use with over 200 law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service
. The standard selective fire P90 is restricted to military and law enforcement customers, but since 2005, a semi-automatic
carbine
version has been offered to civilian shooters as the PS90.
s (PDWs), were to provide "personal protection in last-resort situations when the user is directly endangered by the enemy [...]." In 1989, NATO published document D/296, outlining a number of preliminary specifications for these weapons:
FN Herstal was the first small arms
manufacturer to respond to NATO's requirement; FN started by developing a shoulder-fired personal defense weapon, the P90, along with a small caliber, high velocity 5.7×28mm cartridge type. The original 5.7×28mm cartridge, called the SS90, went into production with the P90 in 1990. The SS90 propelled a 1.5 g
(23 grain) plastic-core projectile
from the P90 at a muzzle velocity
of roughly 850 m/s (2,800 ft/s). Shortly after its introduction, the P90 was adopted and used in service with the Belgian special forces group
in the 1991 Gulf War
.
Following the P90's introduction, FN revised the 5.7×28mm ammunition. The new variation, designated the SS190, used a projectile 2.7 mm (0.11 in) shorter in length than that of the SS90. This allowed it to be used more conveniently in the 5.7×28mm FN Five-seven pistol, which was under development at that time. The SS190 projectile also had a heavier weight, and a more conventional construction with an aluminum and steel core. The first prototypes of the SS190 were created in 1992, and the design was finalized in 1993, replacing the SS90. A modified version of the P90, with a magazine adapted to use the shortened ammunition, was then introduced in the same year. Several special cartridge variations were also developed, such as the L191 tracer
round and the SB193 subsonic
round for use with a sound-suppressed P90.
cartridge, which was created by German
small arms
manufacturer Heckler & Koch
as a competitor to the 5.7×28mm. The results of the NATO tests were analyzed by a group formed of experts from Canada
, France
, the United Kingdom
, and the United States
, and the group's conclusion was that the 5.7×28mm was "undoubtedly" the more efficient cartridge. However, the German delegation and others rejected the NATO recommendation that 5.7×28mm be standardized, halting the standardization process indefinitely. As a result, both the 4.6×30mm and 5.7×28mm cartridges (and the associated weapons) have been independently adopted by various NATO countries, according to preference; the P90 is currently in service with military and police forces in over 40 countries throughout the world.
triple rail interface for mounting accessories. This variant was introduced in late 1999 and continues to be offered alongside the standard P90. More recently, the P90 has been offered to civilian shooters as the PS90, a semi-automatic carbine intended for personal protection
and sporting use.
, straight blowback
-operated weapon with a cyclic rate of fire
of 900 RPM (rounds per minute). The weapon is chambered for FN's 5.7×28mm ammunition, and although it was developed and initially marketed as a personal defense weapon
, it could also be considered a submachine gun
or compact assault rifle
. Its unusual shape is based on extensive ergonomic research. The weapon is grasped by means of a thumbhole in the frame that acts as a pistol grip
, as well as an oversized trigger guard
that acts as a foregrip
for the shooter's support hand. The P90 fires from a closed bolt
for maximum accuracy, and its design makes extensive use of polymers for reduced weight and cost. Overall, the weapon is relatively lightweight, weighing 2.5 kg
(5.6 lb
) empty, or 3 kg (6.6 lb) with a loaded 50-round magazine.
The P90 is notable for being fully ambidextrous—it can be operated by right or left-handed shooters with equal ease, and without making any modifications to the weapon. FN Herstal has described it as the "first fully ambidextrous individual automatic weapon." The charging handle, magazine release
and backup iron sight
s are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the weapon, and the firing selector is located directly at the foot of the trigger, where it can be operated from either side by the shooter's trigger finger or support hand thumb. When fired, the P90 ejects spent cartridge casings downward through a chute located behind the grip, so spent cases are kept out of the shooter's line of sight.
The P90 can be fitted with a sling
for greater ease of carry, and since the weapon has a fixed stock (as opposed to having a collapsing or folding stock), it can be quickly deployed when needed. The weapon's smooth, rounded contours prevent it from snagging on the shooter's clothing or equipment, and a small vertical protrusion is provided at the front end of the weapon's frame to prevent the shooter's hand from accidentally slipping in front of the muzzle while shooting. A hollow compartment inside the rear of the weapon's frame—accessed by removing the buttplate—allows for convenient storage of a cleaning kit.
The P90 was designed to have a length no greater than a man's shoulder width, to allow it to be easily carried and maneuvered in tight spaces, such as the inside of an armored vehicle
. To achieve this design goal, the weapon's design utilizes the unconventional bullpup
configuration, in which the action
and magazine are located behind the trigger and alongside the shooter's face so that there is no wasted space in the stock. The P90's dimensions are also minimized by its unique horizontally mounted feeding system, wherein the box magazine sits parallel to the barrel, fitting flush with the top of the weapon's frame. The weapon overall has an extremely compact profile—it is the most compact submachine gun to be made with a fixed stock. The standard version of the weapon has an overall length of 500 mm (19.7 in), a height of 210 mm (8.3 in), and a width of 55 mm (2.2 in).
The P90 requires minimal maintenance
, and it can be disassembled quickly and easily. It is a modular firearm, consisting of four main component groups: the barrel
and optical sight group, the moving parts group, the frame and trigger group, and the hammer group. The P90's barrel is cold hammer-forged
and chrome-lined
, with an overall length of 263 mm (10.4 in). The barrel has eight rifling
grooves with a right-hand twist rate of 1:231 mm (1:9.1 in), and it is equipped with a diagonally cut flash suppressor
that also acts as a recoil compensator. The stated service life of the barrel is 20,000 rounds.
The P90 uses an internal hammer striking mechanism and a trigger mechanism with a three-position rotary dial fire control selector, located at the foot of the trigger. The dial has three settings: S – safe, 1 – semi-automatic fire, and A – fully automatic fire. When set on A, the P90's fire selector provides a two-stage trigger operation similar to that of the Steyr AUG
assault rifle—pulling the trigger back slightly produces semi-automatic fire, and pulling the trigger fully to the rear produces fully automatic fire.
bottlenecked cartridge it uses. The 5.7×28mm cartridge was created by FN Herstal in response to a NATO requirement that called for a replacement for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge, which is commonly used in pistols and submachine guns. The 5.7×28mm cartridge weighs 6.0 g
(93 grains)—roughly half as much as a typical 9×19mm cartridge—making extra ammunition less burdensome, or allowing more ammunition to be carried for the same weight. Since the 5.7×28mm cartridge also has a relatively small diameter, an unusually high number of cartridges can be contained in a magazine. The cartridge has a loud report and produces considerable muzzle flash (when fired from a pistol), but it produces roughly 30 percent less recoil
than the 9×19mm cartridge, improving controllability. Due to its high velocity, the 5.7×28mm also exhibits an exceptionally flat trajectory
.
One of the design intents for the standard 5.7×28mm cartridge type, the SS190, was that it have the ability to penetrate Kevlar
protective vests—such as the NATO CRISAT
vest—that will stop conventional pistol bullets. Fired from the P90, the 5.7×28mm SS190 has a muzzle velocity of roughly 716 m/s (2,350 ft/s) and is capable of penetrating the CRISAT vest at a range of 200 m (219 yd), or a Level IIIA Kevlar vest at the same range. FN states an effective range of 200 m (219 yd) and a maximum range of 1,800 m (1,969 yd) for the 5.7×28mm cartridge when fired from the P90.
In testing conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP) in 1999, the SS190 fired from the P90 at a distance of 25 m (27 yd) exhibited an average penetration depth of 25 cm (9.85 in) in ballistic gelatin
covered with a Level II vest. The SS190 exhibited penetration depths ranging from 28 to 34 cm (11 to 13.5 in) when fired from the P90 into bare ballistic gelatin, in tests conducted by Houston Police Department
SWAT
. In testing, the SS190 and similar 5.7×28mm projectile
s consistently turn base over point ("tumble") as they pass through ballistic gelatin and other media, using the 21.6-mm (.85 in) projectile length to create a larger wound cavity. However, some are skeptical of the bullet's terminal performance
, and it is a subject of debate among civilian shooters in the United States.
The 5.7×28mm projectile potentially poses less risk of collateral damage
than conventional pistol bullets, because the projectile design limits overpenetration, as well as risk of ricochet
. The lightweight projectile also poses less risk of collateral damage in the event of a miss, because it loses much of its kinetic energy
after traveling only 400 m (437 yd), whereas a conventional pistol bullet such as the 9×19mm retains significant energy beyond 800 m (875 yd). This range exceeds the engagement distances expected for the 5.7×28mm cartridge's intended applications, so the cartridge's limited energy at long range is not conversely considered to be disadvantageous. Since the SS190 projectile does not rely on fragmentation or the expansion of a hollow point
, the cartridge (and 5.7×28mm weapons) are considered suitable for military use under the Hague Convention of 1899, which prohibits the use of expanding bullets in warfare.
ed in the United States—that contributes to the weapon's compact profile and unusual appearance. U.S. Patent 4,905,394 ("Top mounted longitudinal magazine") was awarded in 1990, naming René Predazzer as the sole inventor. The detachable box magazine is mounted parallel to the P90's barrel, fitting flush with the top of the weapon's frame, and it contains 50 rounds of ammunition, which lie in two rows at a right angle to the barrel. As the cartridges are pushed back by spring pressure and arrive at the rear end of the magazine, they are fed as a single row into a spiral feed ramp and rotated 90 degrees, aligning them with the chamber. The magazine body is composed of polymer
, and it is semi-transparent to allow the shooter to see the amount of ammunition remaining at any time.
(MOA), with a 20 MOA circle surrounding a dot in the center. The night reticle consists of an open T that is primarily illuminated by a tritium module and ambient light drawn in by an upward-facing collector. The sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation, and it can be used in conjunction with night vision equipment. As backup in case the reflex sight is damaged, a set of fixed iron sight
s is provided on each side of the reflex sight housing.
The P90 has provisions for mounting a number of different types of accessories, including tactical light
s and laser aiming devices. A sling can be attached to the P90 for greater ease of carry, or it can be fitted with various sound suppressors such as the Gemtech SP90, which was designed specifically for the weapon in cooperation with FN Herstal. This stainless steel suppressor with a black oxide finish is built according to MIL-SPECs, including saltwater corrosion resistance. It has a length of 184 mm (7.2 in), a diameter of 35 mm (1.4 in) and a weight of 680 g (1.5 lb). When subsonic
ammunition is used in conjunction with the suppressor, it reduces the sound signature of the P90 by 33 dB
. A small case collector pouch for the P90 is also available, which fits over the ejection port and collects spent cases as they are ejected downward; the pouch will collect up to one hundred cases before filling.
P90 USG
P90 Laserex models
PS90 Standard
PS90 TR
PS90 USG
Despite being originally intended as a defensive weapon for military personnel whose primary role is not fighting with small arms (such as vehicle drivers), most sales of the P90 have actually been to special forces
and counter-terrorist groups who use it for offensive roles. The P90 first saw operational use in the 1991 Gulf War
, where it was used by the Belgian special forces group
.
In 1997, suppressed P90s were used in combat by the Peruvian special forces group (Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales) in Operation Chavín de Huantar
, the hostage rescue
siege that ended the Japanese embassy hostage crisis
. The operation was a success: all 14 MRTA
revolutionaries were killed, and 71 hostages were rescued. The MRTA revolutionaries who had taken the hostages were equipped with body armor, but it was defeated by the Peruvian special forces' P90s. In 2011, P90s were used by Muammar Gaddafi
's military forces
in the Libyan Civil War, and some of these examples were captured and used in the war by Libyan rebel forces
.
By 2009, the P90 was in service with military and police forces in over 40 countries throughout the world. In the United States, Houston Police Department
was the first local law enforcement agency to adopt the P90, acquiring it for their SWAT
team in 1999. In 2003, the Houston SWAT team also became one of the first agencies in the country to use the weapon in a shootout
. By 2009, the P90 was in use with over 200 law enforcement agencies in the United States, including the Secret Service
and Federal Protective Service
. In response, the National Rifle Association
added the P90 and PS90 to its NRA Tactical Police Competition standards, allowing law enforcement agencies to compete in the event using either weapon.
Military and law enforcement organizations using the P90 include:
Video
Selective fire
A selective fire firearm has at least one semi–automatic and one automatic mode, which is activated by means of a selector which varies depending on the weapon's design. Some selective fire weapons utilize burst fire mechanisms to limit the maximum or total number of shots fired automatically in...
personal defense weapon
Personal defense weapon
A personal defense weapon is a compact semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm similar in most respects to a submachine gun, but firing an armor-piercing rifle round, giving a PDW better range, accuracy and armor-penetrating capability than submachine guns, which fire pistol-caliber cartridges...
(PDW) designed and manufactured by FN Herstal in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The P90's name is taken from 1990, the year it was introduced. The P90 was created in response to NATO requests for a replacement for 9×19mm Parabellum firearms; it was designed as a compact but powerful firearm for vehicle crews, operators of crew-served weapons, support personnel, special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
and counter-terrorist groups.
The P90 was designed by FN in conjunction with the FN Five-seven pistol and 5.7×28mm ammunition. Development of the P90 began in 1986, and production commenced in 1990, whereupon the 5.7×28mm ammunition was redesigned and shortened. A modified version of the P90 with a magazine adapted to use the new ammunition was introduced in 1993, and the Five-seven pistol was subsequently introduced as a companion weapon using the same 5.7×28mm ammunition.
The P90 was developed and initially marketed as a personal defense weapon
Personal defense weapon
A personal defense weapon is a compact semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm similar in most respects to a submachine gun, but firing an armor-piercing rifle round, giving a PDW better range, accuracy and armor-penetrating capability than submachine guns, which fire pistol-caliber cartridges...
, but it could also be considered a submachine gun
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
or compact assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
. Featuring a compact bullpup
Bullpup
Bullpups are firearm configurations in which the action is located behind the trigger group and alongside the shooter's face, so there is no wasted space for the buttstock as in conventional designs. This permits a shorter firearm length for the same barrel length for improved maneuverability, and...
design with an integrated reflex sight and fully ambidextrous controls, the P90 is an unconventional weapon with a futuristic appearance. Its design incorporates several innovations such as a unique top-mounted magazine and FN's small-caliber, high-velocity
Muzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity is the speed a projectile has at the moment it leaves the muzzle of the gun. Muzzle velocities range from approximately to in black powder muskets , to more than in modern rifles with high-performance cartridges such as the .220 Swift and .204 Ruger, all the way to for tank guns...
5.7×28mm ammunition.
The P90 is currently in service with military and police forces in over 40 countries, such as Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Malaysia, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the United States, the P90 is in use with over 200 law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
. The standard selective fire P90 is restricted to military and law enforcement customers, but since 2005, a semi-automatic
Semi-automatic firearm
A semi-automatic, or self-loading firearm is a weapon which performs all steps necessary to prepare the weapon to fire again after firing—assuming cartridges remain in the weapon's feed device or magazine...
carbine
Carbine
A carbine , from French carabine, is a longarm similar to but shorter than a rifle or musket. Many carbines are shortened versions of full rifles, firing the same ammunition at a lower velocity due to a shorter barrel length....
version has been offered to civilian shooters as the PS90.
Development
The P90 and its 5.7×28mm ammunition were developed by FN Herstal in response to NATO requests for a replacement for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge and associated pistols and submachine guns. NATO called for two types of weapons chambered for a new cartridge—one a shoulder-fired weapon, and the other a handheld weapon. According to NATO, these new weapons, termed personal defense weaponPersonal defense weapon
A personal defense weapon is a compact semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm similar in most respects to a submachine gun, but firing an armor-piercing rifle round, giving a PDW better range, accuracy and armor-penetrating capability than submachine guns, which fire pistol-caliber cartridges...
s (PDWs), were to provide "personal protection in last-resort situations when the user is directly endangered by the enemy [...]." In 1989, NATO published document D/296, outlining a number of preliminary specifications for these weapons:
- The new cartridge was to have greater range, accuracy, and terminal performanceBallistic traumaThe term ballistic trauma refers to a form of physical trauma sustained from the discharge of arms or munitions. The most common forms of ballistic trauma stem from firearms used in armed conflicts, civilian sporting and recreational pursuits, and criminal activity.-Destructive effects:The degree...
than the 9×19mm cartridge. Additionally, it was to be capable of penetrating body armor. - The shoulder-fired personal defense weapon was to weigh less than 3 kgKilogramThe kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
(6.6 lbPound (mass)The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
), with a magazine capacity of at least 20 rounds. - The handheld personal defense weapon (pistol) was to weigh less than 1 kg (2.2 lb), although a weight of 700 g (1.5 lb) was deemed desirable; it was to have a magazine capacity of no less than 20 rounds.
- Both weapons were to be sufficiently compact to be carried hands-free on the user's person at all times, whether in the cab of a vehicle or the cockpit of an aircraft, and were to perform effectively in all environments and weather conditions.
FN Herstal was the first small arms
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
manufacturer to respond to NATO's requirement; FN started by developing a shoulder-fired personal defense weapon, the P90, along with a small caliber, high velocity 5.7×28mm cartridge type. The original 5.7×28mm cartridge, called the SS90, went into production with the P90 in 1990. The SS90 propelled a 1.5 g
Gram
The gram is a metric system unit of mass....
(23 grain) plastic-core projectile
Projectile
A projectile is any object projected into space by the exertion of a force. Although a thrown baseball is technically a projectile too, the term more commonly refers to a weapon....
from the P90 at a muzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity is the speed a projectile has at the moment it leaves the muzzle of the gun. Muzzle velocities range from approximately to in black powder muskets , to more than in modern rifles with high-performance cartridges such as the .220 Swift and .204 Ruger, all the way to for tank guns...
of roughly 850 m/s (2,800 ft/s). Shortly after its introduction, the P90 was adopted and used in service with the Belgian special forces group
Special Forces Group (Belgium)
The Special Forces Group is a special forces unit in the Land Component of the Belgian Armed Forces.Members of the Special Forces Group are normally selected from the paracommando units of the Belgian Army. Lately, there has been a problem in filling vacancies in this Army group...
in the 1991 Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
Following the P90's introduction, FN revised the 5.7×28mm ammunition. The new variation, designated the SS190, used a projectile 2.7 mm (0.11 in) shorter in length than that of the SS90. This allowed it to be used more conveniently in the 5.7×28mm FN Five-seven pistol, which was under development at that time. The SS190 projectile also had a heavier weight, and a more conventional construction with an aluminum and steel core. The first prototypes of the SS190 were created in 1992, and the design was finalized in 1993, replacing the SS90. A modified version of the P90, with a magazine adapted to use the shortened ammunition, was then introduced in the same year. Several special cartridge variations were also developed, such as the L191 tracer
Tracer ammunition
Tracer ammunition are bullets that are built with a small pyrotechnic charge in their base. Ignited by the burning powder, the phosphorus tail burns very brightly, making the projectile visible to the naked eye...
round and the SB193 subsonic
Speed of sound
The speed of sound is the distance travelled during a unit of time by a sound wave propagating through an elastic medium. In dry air at , the speed of sound is . This is , or about one kilometer in three seconds or approximately one mile in five seconds....
round for use with a sound-suppressed P90.
NATO evaluation
In 2002 and 2003, NATO conducted a series of tests with the intention of standardizing a PDW cartridge as a replacement for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. The tests compared the relative merits of the FN 5.7×28mm cartridge and the HK 4.6×30mmHK 4.6×30mm
The HK 4.6×30mm cartridge is a type of ammunition used in the Heckler & Koch MP7 Personal Defense Weapon and by the HK UCP pistol. It is designed to minimize weight and recoil while increasing penetration of body armor. It features a bottlenecked case and a pointed, steel-core, brass-jacketed...
cartridge, which was created by German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
small arms
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
manufacturer Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
as a competitor to the 5.7×28mm. The results of the NATO tests were analyzed by a group formed of experts from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the group's conclusion was that the 5.7×28mm was "undoubtedly" the more efficient cartridge. However, the German delegation and others rejected the NATO recommendation that 5.7×28mm be standardized, halting the standardization process indefinitely. As a result, both the 4.6×30mm and 5.7×28mm cartridges (and the associated weapons) have been independently adopted by various NATO countries, according to preference; the P90 is currently in service with military and police forces in over 40 countries throughout the world.
Present
Further development of the P90 platform led to the creation of the P90 TR variant, which has a MIL-STD-1913Picatinny rail
The Picatinny rail or MIL-STD-1913 rail or STANAG 2324 rail or a "Tactical Rail" is a bracket used on some firearms in order to provide a standardized mounting platform. A similar system is the Weaver rail mount.-Description:...
triple rail interface for mounting accessories. This variant was introduced in late 1999 and continues to be offered alongside the standard P90. More recently, the P90 has been offered to civilian shooters as the PS90, a semi-automatic carbine intended for personal protection
Self-defense
Self-defense, self-defence or private defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one's property or the well-being of another from physical harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in times of danger is available in many...
and sporting use.
Design details
The P90 is a selective fireSelective fire
A selective fire firearm has at least one semi–automatic and one automatic mode, which is activated by means of a selector which varies depending on the weapon's design. Some selective fire weapons utilize burst fire mechanisms to limit the maximum or total number of shots fired automatically in...
, straight blowback
Blowback (arms)
Blowback is a system of operation for self-loading firearms that obtains energy from the motion of the cartridge case as it is pushed to the rear by expanding gases created by the ignition of the propellant charge....
-operated weapon with a cyclic rate of fire
Rate of fire
Rate of fire is the frequency at which a specific weapon can fire or launch its projectiles. It is usually measured in rounds per minute , or per second .-Overview:...
of 900 RPM (rounds per minute). The weapon is chambered for FN's 5.7×28mm ammunition, and although it was developed and initially marketed as a personal defense weapon
Personal defense weapon
A personal defense weapon is a compact semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm similar in most respects to a submachine gun, but firing an armor-piercing rifle round, giving a PDW better range, accuracy and armor-penetrating capability than submachine guns, which fire pistol-caliber cartridges...
, it could also be considered a submachine gun
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
or compact assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
. Its unusual shape is based on extensive ergonomic research. The weapon is grasped by means of a thumbhole in the frame that acts as a pistol grip
Pistol grip
On a firearm or other tool, the pistol grip is that portion of the mechanism that is held by the hand and orients the hand in a forward, vertical orientation, similar to the position one would take with a conventional pistol such as the M1911....
, as well as an oversized trigger guard
Trigger guard
A trigger guard is a loop surrounding the trigger of a firearm and protecting it from accidental discharge.Some assault rifles can have their trigger guard removed or positioned as not to impair firing with gloves for example in Arctic conditions....
that acts as a foregrip
Foregrip
A foregrip is the grip on the front of a firearm that helps to control the gun, and prevent burns from the barrel during firing. A vertical foregrip can also allow for easier horizontal movement of the firearm, as it creates a firmer grasping point than conventional hand guards. Some firearms...
for the shooter's support hand. The P90 fires from a closed bolt
Closed bolt
A semi or full-automatic firearm which is said to fire from a closed bolt is one where, when ready to fire, a round is in the chamber and the bolt and working parts are forward...
for maximum accuracy, and its design makes extensive use of polymers for reduced weight and cost. Overall, the weapon is relatively lightweight, weighing 2.5 kg
Kilogram
The kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
(5.6 lb
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
) empty, or 3 kg (6.6 lb) with a loaded 50-round magazine.
Magazine release
A magazine release is the control on a firearm that retains a weapon's magazine.-Pistol:Heel or "European" magazine release is located at the butt of the pistol grip and is commonly a simple catch as on the Makarov or Walther P-38. This has the advantages of being both ambidextrous and resistant...
and backup iron sight
Iron sight
Iron sights are a system of shaped alignment markers used as a sighting device to assist in the aiming of a device such as a firearm, crossbow, or telescope, and exclude the use of optics as in telescopic sights or reflector sights...
s are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the weapon, and the firing selector is located directly at the foot of the trigger, where it can be operated from either side by the shooter's trigger finger or support hand thumb. When fired, the P90 ejects spent cartridge casings downward through a chute located behind the grip, so spent cases are kept out of the shooter's line of sight.
The P90 can be fitted with a sling
Sling (firearms)
In the context of firearms, a sling is a type of strap or harness designed to allow a shooter to carry a firearm on his/her person and/or aid in greater hit probability with that firearm...
for greater ease of carry, and since the weapon has a fixed stock (as opposed to having a collapsing or folding stock), it can be quickly deployed when needed. The weapon's smooth, rounded contours prevent it from snagging on the shooter's clothing or equipment, and a small vertical protrusion is provided at the front end of the weapon's frame to prevent the shooter's hand from accidentally slipping in front of the muzzle while shooting. A hollow compartment inside the rear of the weapon's frame—accessed by removing the buttplate—allows for convenient storage of a cleaning kit.
The P90 was designed to have a length no greater than a man's shoulder width, to allow it to be easily carried and maneuvered in tight spaces, such as the inside of an armored vehicle
Armoured fighting vehicle
An armoured fighting vehicle is a combat vehicle, protected by strong armour and armed with weapons. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked....
. To achieve this design goal, the weapon's design utilizes the unconventional bullpup
Bullpup
Bullpups are firearm configurations in which the action is located behind the trigger group and alongside the shooter's face, so there is no wasted space for the buttstock as in conventional designs. This permits a shorter firearm length for the same barrel length for improved maneuverability, and...
configuration, in which the action
Firearm action
In firearms terminology, an action is the physical mechanism that manipulates cartridges and/or seals the breech. The term is also used to describe the method in which cartridges are loaded, locked, and extracted from the mechanism. Actions are generally categorized by the type of mechanism used...
and magazine are located behind the trigger and alongside the shooter's face so that there is no wasted space in the stock. The P90's dimensions are also minimized by its unique horizontally mounted feeding system, wherein the box magazine sits parallel to the barrel, fitting flush with the top of the weapon's frame. The weapon overall has an extremely compact profile—it is the most compact submachine gun to be made with a fixed stock. The standard version of the weapon has an overall length of 500 mm (19.7 in), a height of 210 mm (8.3 in), and a width of 55 mm (2.2 in).
The P90 requires minimal maintenance
Firearm maintenance
Firearm maintenance includes inspecting and testing a gun for worn or compromised parts, replacing parts, and keeping the gun properly cleaned and stored.- Cleaning :...
, and it can be disassembled quickly and easily. It is a modular firearm, consisting of four main component groups: the barrel
Gun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
and optical sight group, the moving parts group, the frame and trigger group, and the hammer group. The P90's barrel is cold hammer-forged
Forging
Forging is a manufacturing process involving the shaping of metal using localized compressive forces. Forging is often classified according to the temperature at which it is performed: '"cold," "warm," or "hot" forging. Forged parts can range in weight from less than a kilogram to 580 metric tons...
and chrome-lined
Chrome plating
Chrome plating, often referred to simply as chrome, is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease cleaning procedures, or increase surface hardness.-Process:A component to be chrome plated will...
, with an overall length of 263 mm (10.4 in). The barrel has eight rifling
Rifling
Rifling is the process of making helical grooves in the barrel of a gun or firearm, which imparts a spin to a projectile around its long axis...
grooves with a right-hand twist rate of 1:231 mm (1:9.1 in), and it is equipped with a diagonally cut flash suppressor
Flash suppressor
A flash suppressor, also known as a flash guard, flash eliminator, flash hider, or flash cone, is a device attached to the muzzle of a rifle or other gun that reduces the visible signature of the burning gases that exit the muzzle. This reduces the chances that the shooter will be blinded in dark...
that also acts as a recoil compensator. The stated service life of the barrel is 20,000 rounds.
The P90 uses an internal hammer striking mechanism and a trigger mechanism with a three-position rotary dial fire control selector, located at the foot of the trigger. The dial has three settings: S – safe, 1 – semi-automatic fire, and A – fully automatic fire. When set on A, the P90's fire selector provides a two-stage trigger operation similar to that of the Steyr AUG
Steyr AUG
The AUG is an Austrian bullpup 5.56mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1970s by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co KG . The AUG was adopted by the Austrian Army as the StG 77 in 1977, where it replaced the 7.62mm StG 58 automatic rifle...
assault rifle—pulling the trigger back slightly produces semi-automatic fire, and pulling the trigger fully to the rear produces fully automatic fire.
Ammunition
Particularly significant to the design of the P90 is the small-caliber, high-velocityMuzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity is the speed a projectile has at the moment it leaves the muzzle of the gun. Muzzle velocities range from approximately to in black powder muskets , to more than in modern rifles with high-performance cartridges such as the .220 Swift and .204 Ruger, all the way to for tank guns...
bottlenecked cartridge it uses. The 5.7×28mm cartridge was created by FN Herstal in response to a NATO requirement that called for a replacement for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge, which is commonly used in pistols and submachine guns. The 5.7×28mm cartridge weighs 6.0 g
Gram
The gram is a metric system unit of mass....
(93 grains)—roughly half as much as a typical 9×19mm cartridge—making extra ammunition less burdensome, or allowing more ammunition to be carried for the same weight. Since the 5.7×28mm cartridge also has a relatively small diameter, an unusually high number of cartridges can be contained in a magazine. The cartridge has a loud report and produces considerable muzzle flash (when fired from a pistol), but it produces roughly 30 percent less recoil
Recoil
Recoil is the backward momentum of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil caused by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gasses, according to Newton's third law...
than the 9×19mm cartridge, improving controllability. Due to its high velocity, the 5.7×28mm also exhibits an exceptionally flat trajectory
Trajectory
A trajectory is the path that a moving object follows through space as a function of time. The object might be a projectile or a satellite, for example. It thus includes the meaning of orbit—the path of a planet, an asteroid or a comet as it travels around a central mass...
.
One of the design intents for the standard 5.7×28mm cartridge type, the SS190, was that it have the ability to penetrate Kevlar
Kevlar
Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...
protective vests—such as the NATO CRISAT
CRISAT
CRISAT, short for Collaborative Research Into Small Arms Technology, is an EU-NATO standard in the manufacture of military equipment. The CRISAT target is defined as a 1.6mm titanium plate supplemented by 20 layers of Kevlar. This target is intended to replicate the personal protection used by...
vest—that will stop conventional pistol bullets. Fired from the P90, the 5.7×28mm SS190 has a muzzle velocity of roughly 716 m/s (2,350 ft/s) and is capable of penetrating the CRISAT vest at a range of 200 m (219 yd), or a Level IIIA Kevlar vest at the same range. FN states an effective range of 200 m (219 yd) and a maximum range of 1,800 m (1,969 yd) for the 5.7×28mm cartridge when fired from the P90.
In testing conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
(RCMP) in 1999, the SS190 fired from the P90 at a distance of 25 m (27 yd) exhibited an average penetration depth of 25 cm (9.85 in) in ballistic gelatin
Ballistic gelatin
Ballistic Gelatin is a testing medium scientifically correlated to swine muscle tissue , in which the effects of bullet wounds can be simulated. It was developed and improved by Martin Fackler and others in the field of wound ballistics. Ballistic gelatin is a solution of gelatin powder in water...
covered with a Level II vest. The SS190 exhibited penetration depths ranging from 28 to 34 cm (11 to 13.5 in) when fired from the P90 into bare ballistic gelatin, in tests conducted by Houston Police Department
Houston Police Department
The Houston Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Houston, Texas, United States and some surrounding areas. Its headquarters are in 1200 Travis in Downtown Houston....
SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
. In testing, the SS190 and similar 5.7×28mm projectile
Projectile
A projectile is any object projected into space by the exertion of a force. Although a thrown baseball is technically a projectile too, the term more commonly refers to a weapon....
s consistently turn base over point ("tumble") as they pass through ballistic gelatin and other media, using the 21.6-mm (.85 in) projectile length to create a larger wound cavity. However, some are skeptical of the bullet's terminal performance
Ballistic trauma
The term ballistic trauma refers to a form of physical trauma sustained from the discharge of arms or munitions. The most common forms of ballistic trauma stem from firearms used in armed conflicts, civilian sporting and recreational pursuits, and criminal activity.-Destructive effects:The degree...
, and it is a subject of debate among civilian shooters in the United States.
The 5.7×28mm projectile potentially poses less risk of collateral damage
Collateral damage
Collateral damage is damage to people or property that is unintended or incidental to the intended outcome. The phrase is prevalently used as an euphemism for civilian casualties of a military action.-Etymology:...
than conventional pistol bullets, because the projectile design limits overpenetration, as well as risk of ricochet
Ricochet
A ricochet is a rebound, bounce or skip off a surface, particularly in the case of a projectile. The possibility of ricochet is one of the reasons for the common firearms safety rule "Never shoot at a flat, hard surface."-Variables:...
. The lightweight projectile also poses less risk of collateral damage in the event of a miss, because it loses much of its kinetic energy
Kinetic energy
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy which it possesses due to its motion.It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes...
after traveling only 400 m (437 yd), whereas a conventional pistol bullet such as the 9×19mm retains significant energy beyond 800 m (875 yd). This range exceeds the engagement distances expected for the 5.7×28mm cartridge's intended applications, so the cartridge's limited energy at long range is not conversely considered to be disadvantageous. Since the SS190 projectile does not rely on fragmentation or the expansion of a hollow point
Hollow point bullet
A hollow point is an expanding bullet that has a pit or hollowed out shape in its tip, generally intended to cause the bullet to thin upon entering a target in order to decrease penetration and disrupt more tissue as it travels through the target. It is also used for controlled penetration, where...
, the cartridge (and 5.7×28mm weapons) are considered suitable for military use under the Hague Convention of 1899, which prohibits the use of expanding bullets in warfare.
Feeding
The P90 uses a unique horizontally mounted feeding system—patentPatent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
ed in the United States—that contributes to the weapon's compact profile and unusual appearance. U.S. Patent 4,905,394 ("Top mounted longitudinal magazine") was awarded in 1990, naming René Predazzer as the sole inventor. The detachable box magazine is mounted parallel to the P90's barrel, fitting flush with the top of the weapon's frame, and it contains 50 rounds of ammunition, which lie in two rows at a right angle to the barrel. As the cartridges are pushed back by spring pressure and arrive at the rear end of the magazine, they are fed as a single row into a spiral feed ramp and rotated 90 degrees, aligning them with the chamber. The magazine body is composed of polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
, and it is semi-transparent to allow the shooter to see the amount of ammunition remaining at any time.
Sights and accessories
The P90 was originally equipped with the Ring Sights HC-14-62 reflex sight, but the current weapon is instead fitted with the Ring Sights MC-10-80 reflex sight, which was specifically designed for it. The MC-10-80 has a polymer housing and uses a forward-aimed fiber optic collector to illuminate the daytime reticle, which consists of a large circle of about 180 Minutes of arcMinute of arc
A minute of arc, arcminute, or minute of angle , is a unit of angular measurement equal to one sixtieth of one degree. In turn, a second of arc or arcsecond is one sixtieth of one minute of arc....
(MOA), with a 20 MOA circle surrounding a dot in the center. The night reticle consists of an open T that is primarily illuminated by a tritium module and ambient light drawn in by an upward-facing collector. The sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation, and it can be used in conjunction with night vision equipment. As backup in case the reflex sight is damaged, a set of fixed iron sight
Iron sight
Iron sights are a system of shaped alignment markers used as a sighting device to assist in the aiming of a device such as a firearm, crossbow, or telescope, and exclude the use of optics as in telescopic sights or reflector sights...
s is provided on each side of the reflex sight housing.
The P90 has provisions for mounting a number of different types of accessories, including tactical light
Tactical light
A tactical light is a flashlight used in conjunction with a firearm to aid low light target identification, allowing the marksman to simultaneously aim and illuminate the target. Tactical lights can be handheld or mounted to the weapon with the light beam parallel to the bore...
s and laser aiming devices. A sling can be attached to the P90 for greater ease of carry, or it can be fitted with various sound suppressors such as the Gemtech SP90, which was designed specifically for the weapon in cooperation with FN Herstal. This stainless steel suppressor with a black oxide finish is built according to MIL-SPECs, including saltwater corrosion resistance. It has a length of 184 mm (7.2 in), a diameter of 35 mm (1.4 in) and a weight of 680 g (1.5 lb). When subsonic
Speed of sound
The speed of sound is the distance travelled during a unit of time by a sound wave propagating through an elastic medium. In dry air at , the speed of sound is . This is , or about one kilometer in three seconds or approximately one mile in five seconds....
ammunition is used in conjunction with the suppressor, it reduces the sound signature of the P90 by 33 dB
Decibel
The decibel is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. A ratio in decibels is ten times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of two power quantities...
. A small case collector pouch for the P90 is also available, which fits over the ejection port and collects spent cases as they are ejected downward; the pouch will collect up to one hundred cases before filling.
Variants
P90 TR- The P90 TR (Triple Rail) variant, also known as the "flat-top," was introduced in late 1999. It features a receiver-mounted triple MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) rail interface system, or "Triple Rail," for mounting accessories. There is one full-length accessory rail integrated into the top of the receiver, and two rail stumps are included on the sides of the receiver. The top rail will accept various optical sights with no tools or additional mounting hardware required, and the side rails serve to mount secondary accessories, such as tactical lightTactical lightA tactical light is a flashlight used in conjunction with a firearm to aid low light target identification, allowing the marksman to simultaneously aim and illuminate the target. Tactical lights can be handheld or mounted to the weapon with the light beam parallel to the bore...
s or laser aiming devices.
P90 USG
- The P90 USG (United States Government) variant is similar to the standard P90, except the reflex sight housing is aluminum, and the sight has a revised reticle. The black reticle consists of a tiny dot inside of a small ring, which is joined by three posts that glow red in low light conditions due to tritiumTritiumTritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. The nucleus of tritium contains one proton and two neutrons, whereas the nucleus of protium contains one proton and no neutrons...
-illumination. The USG reflex sight can be removed and replaced with a special MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) rail mount for attaching a different sight.
P90 Laserex models
- The P90 LV (Laser Visible) and P90 IR (Infrared) models, both of which were introduced in late 1995, have an integrated laser sight manufactured by Laserex Technologies in Australia. The P90 LV model projects a 8 mW visible laser intended to be used as a low-light shooting aid or for dissuasive effect, while the P90 IR model projects a 4.5 mW infraredInfraredInfrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
laser that can only be seen with night vision equipment. Both laser systems are compact, consisting of a small, flat panel integrated into the front end of the weapon's frame.
- The Laserex P90 laser systems have a weight of 131 gGramThe gram is a metric system unit of mass....
(0.29 lbPound (mass)The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
), and they are activated by means of a green pressure switch located on the underside of the weapon's pistol grip. The lasers can be configured for three different internal settings: Off – disabled to prevent accidental activation, Training – low intensity for eye safety and extended battery life in training, or Combat – high intensity for maximum visibility. The Laserex P90 laser systems have a battery life of 250 hours when used on the Training setting, or a life of 50 hours when used on the Combat setting.
PS90 semi-automatic models
- The PS90 is a carbineCarbineA carbine , from French carabine, is a longarm similar to but shorter than a rifle or musket. Many carbines are shortened versions of full rifles, firing the same ammunition at a lower velocity due to a shorter barrel length....
version of the P90, intended for civilian shooters for personal protectionSelf-defenseSelf-defense, self-defence or private defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one's property or the well-being of another from physical harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in times of danger is available in many...
and sporting use; it was introduced in 2005, and continues to be offered in several configurations. The PS90 will accept the standard 50-round P90 magazines, but the gun is supplied with a magazine that is blocked to a capacity of 10 or 30 rounds, allowing it to be sold in jurisdictions where magazine capacities are restricted by law.
- In order to be legal for purchase by civilians without obtaining a tax stamp for a Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) as defined by the United States National Firearms ActNational Firearms ActThe National Firearms Act , 73rd Congress, Sess. 2, ch. 757, , enacted on June 26, 1934, currently codified as amended as , is an Act of Congress that, in general, imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms. The...
, the PS90 carbine has an extended 407 mm (16 in) barrel and is semi-automatic, with a trigger pull of approximately 31 to 36 N (7 to 8 lbFPound-forceThe pound force is a unit of force in some systems of measurement including English engineering units and British gravitational units.- Definitions :...
). The lengthened barrel has eight riflingRiflingRifling is the process of making helical grooves in the barrel of a gun or firearm, which imparts a spin to a projectile around its long axis...
grooves, with a right-hand twist rate of 1:229 mm (1:9 in) and a rifled length of 376 mm (14.8 in); the muzzle is equipped with a fixed "birdcage" type flash suppressorFlash suppressorA flash suppressor, also known as a flash guard, flash eliminator, flash hider, or flash cone, is a device attached to the muzzle of a rifle or other gun that reduces the visible signature of the burning gases that exit the muzzle. This reduces the chances that the shooter will be blinded in dark...
.
- Despite the added barrel length, the PS90 is relatively compact and lightweight, with an overall length of 667 mm (26.3 in), and a weight of 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) with a fully loaded 50-round magazine. Due to the added barrel length, the PS90 can also achieve a muzzle velocity of up to 777 m/s (2,550 ft/s) with SS195LF ammunition, or up to 930 m/s (3,050 ft/s) with third party ammunition (see ballistic performance summary below).
PS90 Standard
- The PS90 Standard features a MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) rail fitted to the top of the receiver, which allows the shooter to mount his or her preferred optical sight. The rail includes a set of integrated iron sights, as backup in case the primary sight is damaged. The PS90 Standard is available with either an olive drab or black frame.
PS90 TR
- The PS90 TR features a "Triple Rail" receiver assembly identical to that of the P90 TR. The top of the receiver consists of an MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) rail, allowing the shooter to mount his or her preferred optical sight. Two polymer side rails—one on each side of the receiver—are also included for mounting secondary accessories, such as lasers or tactical lights. Like the PS90 Standard, the PS90 TR is available with either an olive drab or black frame.
PS90 USG
- The PS90 USG is a discontinued variant of the PS90 carbine. In the same fashion as the P90 USG, this variant has an aluminum reflex sight housing with a revised reticle. The black reticle consists of a tiny dot inside of a small ring, which is joined by three posts that glow red in low light conditions due to tritiumTritiumTritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. The nucleus of tritium contains one proton and two neutrons, whereas the nucleus of protium contains one proton and no neutrons...
-illumination. The USG reflex sight can be removed and replaced with a special MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) rail mount for attaching a different sight, and like other models of the PS90, the USG is available with either an olive drab or black frame. As of 2011, the PS90 USG model is no longer listed by FNH USA, but the USG reflex sight is still offered as a standalone accessory.
| SS195LF | SS197SR | EA Protector | EA Varmintor | EA S4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Projectile Projectile A projectile is any object projected into space by the exertion of a force. Although a thrown baseball is technically a projectile too, the term more commonly refers to a weapon.... weight |
1.8 g Gram The gram is a metric system unit of mass.... (28 gr) |
2.6 g (40 gr) | 2.6 g (40 gr) | 2.3 g (36 gr) | 1.8 g (28 gr) | |
| Muzzle velocity Muzzle velocity Muzzle velocity is the speed a projectile has at the moment it leaves the muzzle of the gun. Muzzle velocities range from approximately to in black powder muskets , to more than in modern rifles with high-performance cartridges such as the .220 Swift and .204 Ruger, all the way to for tank guns... |
777 m/s (2,550 ft/s) | 640 m/s (2,100 ft/s) | 716 m/s (2,350 ft/s) | 747 m/s (2,450 ft/s) | 930 m/s (3,050 ft/s) | |
| Muzzle energy Muzzle energy Muzzle energy is the kinetic energy of a bullet as it is expelled from the muzzle of a firearm. It is often used as a rough indication of the destructive potential of a given firearm or load... |
550 J (405 ft-lb) | 530 J (390 ft-lb) | 665 J (490 ft-lb) | 650 J (480 ft-lb) | 785 J (580 ft-lb) | |
| Reference | ||||||
Users
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
and counter-terrorist groups who use it for offensive roles. The P90 first saw operational use in the 1991 Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, where it was used by the Belgian special forces group
Special Forces Group (Belgium)
The Special Forces Group is a special forces unit in the Land Component of the Belgian Armed Forces.Members of the Special Forces Group are normally selected from the paracommando units of the Belgian Army. Lately, there has been a problem in filling vacancies in this Army group...
.
In 1997, suppressed P90s were used in combat by the Peruvian special forces group (Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales) in Operation Chavín de Huantar
Operation Chavín de Huantar
Operation Chavín de Huantar was a military operation in which a team of one hundred and forty-two commandos of the Peruvian Armed Forces ended the 1997 Japanese embassy hostage crisis by raiding the Japanese ambassador's residence and freeing the hostages held there by the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary...
, the hostage rescue
Hostage crisis
A hostage crisis develops when one or more terrorists or criminals hold people against their will and try to hold off the authorities by force, threatening to kill the hostages if provoked or attacked....
siege that ended the Japanese embassy hostage crisis
Japanese embassy hostage crisis
The Japanese embassy hostage crisis began on 17 December 1996 in Lima, Peru, when 14 members of the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement took hostage hundreds of high-level diplomats, government and military officials and business executives who were attending a party at the official residence of...
. The operation was a success: all 14 MRTA
Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement
The Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement was a Marxist revolutionary group active in Peru from the early 1980s to 1997 and one of the main actors in the internal conflict in Peru...
revolutionaries were killed, and 71 hostages were rescued. The MRTA revolutionaries who had taken the hostages were equipped with body armor, but it was defeated by the Peruvian special forces' P90s. In 2011, P90s were used by Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
's military forces
Military of Libya
The Libyan Armed Forces constituted the state defence organisation of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya before they were destroyed, and are being replaced by a new national army. A Major General, Suleiman Mahmoud al-Obeidi, was named interim chief of staff of the rebellion's armed forces in mid July...
in the Libyan Civil War, and some of these examples were captured and used in the war by Libyan rebel forces
Anti-Gaddafi forces
The anti-Gaddafi forces were Libyan groups that opposed and militarily defeated the government of Muammar Gaddafi, killing him in the process. These opposition forces included organised and armed militia groups, participants in the 2011 Libyan civil war, Libyan diplomats who switched their...
.
By 2009, the P90 was in service with military and police forces in over 40 countries throughout the world. In the United States, Houston Police Department
Houston Police Department
The Houston Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Houston, Texas, United States and some surrounding areas. Its headquarters are in 1200 Travis in Downtown Houston....
was the first local law enforcement agency to adopt the P90, acquiring it for their SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
team in 1999. In 2003, the Houston SWAT team also became one of the first agencies in the country to use the weapon in a shootout
Shootout
A shootout is a gun battle between armed groups. A shootout often, but not necessarily, pits law enforcement against criminal elements; it could also involve two groups outside of law enforcement, such as rival gangs. A shootout in a military context A shootout is a gun battle between armed groups....
. By 2009, the P90 was in use with over 200 law enforcement agencies in the United States, including the Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
and Federal Protective Service
United States Federal Protective Service
The Federal Protective Service is the federal police force of the Secretary of Homeland Security. As a component of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and Programs Directorate within DHS Headquarters, FPS is responsible for law enforcement and security of nearly 9,000...
. In response, the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
added the P90 and PS90 to its NRA Tactical Police Competition standards, allowing law enforcement agencies to compete in the event using either weapon.
Military and law enforcement organizations using the P90 include:
| Country | Organization name | Model | Quantity | Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina |
Agrupación de Buzos Tácticos tactical diver group of the Argentine Navy Argentine Navy The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic is the navy of Argentina. It is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force.... |
P90 | — | — | |
| Former Policia Aeronáutica Nacional (PAN; National Aeronautical Police) | P90 | — | — | ||
 Austria |
Jagdkommando Jagdkommando The Jagdkommando is the Austrian Armed Forces' Special Operations group. The duties of this elite unit match those of its foreign counterparts, such as the United States Army Special Forces, being amongst others Counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency... (Jakdo) special group of the Austrian Army |
P90, P90 TR |
140 | — | |
| Kommando Militärstreife & Militärpolizei Austrian Military Police The Austrian Military Police ' is the branch within the Austrian Armed Forces tasked with law enforcement and the protection of the forces, military events and Austrian Armed Forces property.... (Kdo MilStrf&MP) close protection teams |
P90 TR | — | — | ||
 Belgium |
Composante Maritime (Belgian Navy) commandos | — | — | — | |
| Composante Terre Belgian Army The Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: the command capacity, the combat capacity, the support capacity, the services capacity and the training... (Belgian Army) |
— | 80 | 2004- | ||
| Détachement d'Agents de Sécurité (DAS) dignitary protection group | P90 | 53 | — | ||
| Directorate of Special Units Federal Police Special Units The Directorate of Special Units is the Belgian Federal Police's Counter-Terrorism unit. The DSU is deployed in cases of terrorism, kidnappings, hostage taking and other forms of serious crime. In major terrorist operations outside the country, the DSU would be replaced by the Belgian Army Special... (DSU) group of the Federale Politie/Police Fédérale Federal Police (Belgium) The Federal Police carry out specialized police and investigation missions that cover more than one region in Belgium. The federal police have approximately 12,500 personnel that provide support units for the local police and the federal police itself.... |
— | — | — | ||
| Former Gendarmerie/Rijkswacht paramilitary police force | P90 | 114 | — | ||
| Special Forces Group Special Forces Group (Belgium) The Special Forces Group is a special forces unit in the Land Component of the Belgian Armed Forces.Members of the Special Forces Group are normally selected from the paracommando units of the Belgian Army. Lately, there has been a problem in filling vacancies in this Army group... (SFG; used in the 1991 Gulf War Gulf War The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf... ) |
P90 | — | — | ||
| Aarschot Aarschot Aarschot is a city and municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the city of Aarschot proper and the towns of Gelrode, Langdorp and Rillaar. On January 1, 2006 Aarschot had a total population of 27,864... municipal police force |
P90 | — | — | ||
| Liège Liège Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium.... metropolitan police force (replaced the Uzi) |
— | — | 2002- | ||
| Zone de Police Boraine (Boussu Boussu Boussu is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. As of January 1, 2006, Boussu had a total population of 20,058. The total area is 20.01 km², which gives a population density of 1,002 inhabitants per km².... /Colfontaine Colfontaine Colfontaine is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, and comprises the former villages of Pâturages, Warquignies, Wasmes, and Petit Wasmes.... /Frameries Frameries Frameries is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On June 21st 2011 Frameries had a total population of about 20,652... /Quaregnon Quaregnon Quaregnon is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Quaregnon had a total population of 18,744. The total area is 11.08 km² which gives a population density of 1,692 inhabitants per km².... /Saint-Ghislain Saint-Ghislain Saint-Ghislain is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 22,466 inhabitants. The total area is 70.18 km², giving a population density of 320 inhabitants per km².... municipalities) police force |
P90 TR | — | — | ||
 Brazil |
Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais (BOPE) of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State The Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State like other military polices in Brazil is a reserve and ancillary force of the Brazilian Army, and part of the System of Public Security and Brazilian Social Protection... |
— | — | — | |
 Canada |
Joint Task Force 2 Joint Task Force 2 Joint Task Force 2 is an elite Special Operations Force of the Canadian Armed Forces primarily tasked with counter-terrorism operations... (JTF2) special group of the CF Canadian Forces The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."... Special Operations Forces Command Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Canadian Special Operations Forces Command , is a command of the Canadian Forces... |
— | — | 2005- | |
| Halifax Regional Police Halifax Regional Police The Halifax Regional Police is one of a number of law enforcement agencies operating in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia; the other primaries being the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Forces Military Police... force in Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia Halifax Regional Municipality is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924... |
— | — | — | ||
| Service de police de la Ville de Montréal Service de police de la Ville de Montréal The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal is the police force for the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. With about 4,400 officers and 1,600 civilian staff, it is the second largest municipal police agency in Canada after the Toronto Police Service and second largest in the province behind the... (SPVM) SWAT in Montreal, Quebec |
— | — | — | ||
 Chile |
Fuerzas Especiales (Special Forces) | — | — | — | |
 Cyprus |
Εθνική Φρουρά Cypriot National Guard The Cypriot National Guard , also known as the "Greek Cypriot National Guard" or simply as "National Guard", is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus... (Cypriot National Guard) special forces |
P90 | 350 | 2000- | |
 Czech Republic |
Útvar Rychlého Nasazení (URNA) of the Czech National Police Police of the Czech Republic The Police of the Czech Republic is a law enforcement agency of the Czech Republic, officially established as a police force on 15 July 1991 in the former Czech and Slovak Federal Republic... |
P90 | — | 2000s- | |
 Dominican Republic |
Cuerpo de Ayudantes Militares del Presidente de la República | — | — | — | |
| Dominican Republic's counter-terrorist group | — | 150 | 2002- | ||
| Fuerzas Armadas de la República Dominicana Military of the Dominican Republic The Military of the Dominican Republic or Fuerzas Armadas de la República Dominicana consists of approximately 44,000 active duty personnel, about 40 percent of which are utilized for non-military operations, including security providers for government-owned non-military facilities, toll security,... (Military of the Dominican Republic) |
— | — | — | ||
 El Salvador |
Comando Especial Antiterrorista Comando Especial Anti-Terrorista The Comando Especial Anti-Terrorista is a special operations unit and Executive Branch Security of El Salvador, created in 1985 during the El Salvadoran civil war and trained by US special forces. Its main duties are counter-terrorism, hostage rescue and VIP protection... (CEAT) |
— | 350 | 2002- | |
 Early Modern France |
1er Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine (1er RPIMa) of the French Army French Army The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in... |
P90 | — | — | |
| Commandement des Opérations Spéciales Commandement des Opérations Spéciales The Commandement des Opérations Spéciales is the organisation which coordinates the use of the French special forces of all military branches . The COS was created on 24 June 1992, following the Gulf War... (COS) joint special operations command |
— | — | — | ||
| GIGN counter-terrorism group of the Gendarmerie Nationale | P90 TR | — | — | ||
| GIPN counter-terrorism group of the Police Nationale | — | — | — | ||
| RAID Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion or RAID is, like the GIPN, a Special Operations tactical unit of the National Police with more manpower and equipment... counter-terrorism group of the Police Nationale |
— | — | — | ||
| Troupes de marine Troupes de marine The or Infanterie de marine, formerly Troupes coloniales, are an arm of the French Army with a colonial heritage. The Troupes de marine have a dedicated overseas service role. Despite their title they have been a part of the Army since 1958... naval infantry regiment of the Armée de Terre French Army The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in... (French Army) |
P90 | — | — | ||
 Germany |
Bundeskriminalamt Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany) The Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany is a national investigative police agency in Germany and falls directly under the Federal Ministry of the Interior... (BKA; Federal Criminal Police Office) Sicherungsgruppe (SG; tasked with protection of the chancellor and other officials) |
P90 TR | — | — | |
 Greece |
Ειδική Κατασταλτική Αντιτρομοκρατική Μονάδα (EKAM) unit of the Hellenic Police | — | — | — | |
 Guatemala |
Secretaría de Asuntos Administrativos de Seguridad de la Presidencia Secretariats of the Presidency of Guatemala The president of Guatemala is both the head of state and the head of government. The president has therefore strong executive powers which are, in part, reflected in a broad number of agencies that depend directly from the presidency. These agencies include "secretariats of the presidency".The... (SAAS) |
P90 | 20 | 2009- | |
 India |
Special Protection Group Special Protection Group The Special Protection Group is the executive protection agency of the Government of India. It is responsible for the protection of the Prime Minister of India, other top officials, and their immediate families. The force was established in 1985 after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. It is one... (SPG; tasked with protection of the prime minister Prime Minister of India The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament... and other officials) |
P90, P90 TR |
— | 2008- | |
 Indonesia |
Komando Pasukan Katak KOPASKA Kopaska or Komando Pasukan Katak is the premier frogman and underwater demolition unit of the Indonesian Navy. The Unit's motto is 'Tan Hana Wighna Tan Sirna', which means 'There is no obstacle that can not be defeated'. It was officially established on March 31, 1962 by President Sukarno to help... (Kopaska) tactical diver group of the Indonesian Navy Indonesian Navy The role of the Indonesian Navy is to patrol of Indonesia's immense coastline, to ensure safeguard the territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone , to protect Indonesia's maritime strategic interests, to protect the islands surrounded Indonesia and to defend against seaborne threats. The TNI... |
— | — | — | |
| Komando Pasukan Khusus Kopassus Kopassus is an Indonesian Army special forces group that conducts special operations missions for the Indonesian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabotage, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering.Kopassus was founded on April 16, 1952... (Kopassus) special forces group of the Indonesian Army Indonesian Army The Indonesian Army , the land component of the Indonesian Armed Forces, has an estimated strength of 328,517 regular personnel. The force's history began in 1945 when the Tentara Keamanan Rakyat "Civil Security Forces" served as paramilitary and police.Since the nation's independence struggle,... |
— | — | — | ||
 Republic of Ireland |
Sciathán Fianóglach an Airm Irish Army Rangers The Army Ranger Wing is the special forces unit of the Irish Defence Forces.The ARW trains and operates with many international special operations units worldwide, including the US Army Rangers, Delta Force, French GIGN, German GSG 9, Polish GROM, Swedish SSG, Italian COMSUBIN, Australian SAS,... (Army Ranger Wing) of the Irish Defence Forces Irish Defence Forces The armed forces of Ireland, known as the Defence Forces encompass the Army, Naval Service, Air Corps and Reserve Defence Force.The current Supreme Commander of the Irish Defence forces is His Excellency Michael D Higgins in his role as President of Ireland... |
— | — | 2003- | |
 Italy |
Col Moschin 9º Reggimento d'Assalto Paracadutisti 9th Parachute Assault Regiment The 9º Reggimento d'Assalto Paracadutisti ' is the or proudest Special Forces unit of the current Italian Army — in part due to its distinguished history, but also due to the arduous training which members must undertake... (9th Parachute Assault Regiment) special forces of the Italian Army Italian Army The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft... |
P90 TR | — | — | |
 Jordan |
Jordanian Armed Forces Jordanian Armed Forces The Jordanian Armed Forces , also referred to as The Arab Army , with all of it branches, is under direct control of the King of Jordan... |
— | — | — | |
 Lebanon |
Forces de Sécurité Intérieure Internal Security Forces The Internal Security Forces – ISF or Forces de Sécurité Intérieure in French, are the national police and security force of Lebanon. Modern police were established in Lebanon in 1861, with creation of the Gendarmerie... (FSI) |
— | — | — | |
 Libya |
Military of Libya Military of Libya The Libyan Armed Forces constituted the state defence organisation of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya before they were destroyed, and are being replaced by a new national army. A Major General, Suleiman Mahmoud al-Obeidi, was named interim chief of staff of the rebellion's armed forces in mid July... (used by Muammar Gaddafi Muammar Gaddafi Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a... 's military forces in the Libyan Civil War, and some of these examples were captured and used in the war by Libyan rebel forces Anti-Gaddafi forces The anti-Gaddafi forces were Libyan groups that opposed and militarily defeated the government of Muammar Gaddafi, killing him in the process. These opposition forces included organised and armed militia groups, participants in the 2011 Libyan civil war, Libyan diplomats who switched their... ) |
— | 367 | 2008- | |
 Luxembourg |
Unité Spéciale de la Police Unité Spéciale de la Police The Unité Spéciale de la Police is a special unit of the Grand Ducal Police that was created in Luxembourg in 1999. It is tasked with responding to especially dangerous situations such as hostage rescue operations, arrests of dangerous individuals, bomb threats, and dignitary protection duties... (USP) group of the Grand Ducal Police Grand Ducal Police The Grand Ducal Police is the primary law enforcement agency in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The police is under the control of the Minister for the Interior of Luxembourg, although they operate in the name, and under the ultimate control, of the Grand Duke. Day-to-day executive control is... |
P90 TR | — | — | |
 Malaysia |
Pasukan Khas Laut PASKAL The Royal Malaysian Navy PASukan Khas Laut , commonly known as the PASKAL compose the Special Operations Forces of the Royal Malaysian Navy, employed in direct action and special reconnaissance operations... (PASKAL) special operations group of the Royal Malaysian Navy Royal Malaysian Navy The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of Malaysian Armed Forces. All commissioned ships of the RMN have the prefix KD , which means Royal Ship.-Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve:... |
— | — | — | |
 Mauritania |
BASEP presidential security battalion | — | — | — | |
 Mauritius |
Various police forces | P90 | — | — | |
 Mexico |
Ejército Méxicano Mexican Army The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue... (Mexican Army) Special Forces Mexican Special Forces In Mexico both the Army and Navy have special forces groups or elite units.-Army Special Forces:The Army has a Special Forces Corps unified command consisting of 3 Special Forces Brigades, a High Command GAFE group, a GAFE group assigned to the Airborne Brigade and several Amphibious Special... |
P90 | — | — | |
| Estado Mayor Presidencial Estado Mayor Presidencial The Estado Mayor Presidencial — EMP is the institution charged with protecting and safeguarding the President of Mexico and the First Lady of Mexico. It is described in its regulations as a techno-military organism and an administrative unit of the Presidency of the Republic of Mexico in... (EMP; Presidential Guard) |
— | — | — | ||
| Fuerzas Especiales Fuerzas Especiales The Fuerzas Especiales , also known as FES , is a special operations unit of the Mexican Navy officially established in late 2001... (FES) of the Mexican Navy Mexican Navy The Mexican Navy is the naval branch of the Mexican military responsible for conducting naval operations. Its stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for the exterior defense, and to help with internal order". The Navy consists of about 56,000 men and women plus reserves, over... |
— | — | — | ||
| Policía Federal (PF; Federal Police) of the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública | — | — | — | ||
 Netherlands |
Korps Commandotroepen Korps Commandotroepen The Korps Commandotroepen are the elite special forces of the Royal Netherlands Army. It is one of the two principal units tasked with special operations in the Netherlands , and it is deployable anywhere in the world under any circumstance, conducting all conceivable missions from... (KCT) of the Royal Netherlands Army Royal Netherlands Army The Royal Netherlands Army is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands.-Short history:The Royal Netherlands Army was raised on 9 January 1814, but its origins date back to 1572, when the so-called Staatse Leger was raised... (replaced the Uzi) |
P90 TR | — | 2000- | |
| Unit Interventie Mariniers Bijzondere Bijstands Eenheid The Unit Interventie Mariniers , formerly known as the Bijzondere Bijstands Eenheid , is an elite Dutch special forces unit, which is specially trained for intervention missions... (UIM) of the Netherlands Marine Corps Netherlands Marine Corps The Korps Mariniers is the marine corps and amphibious infantry component of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The marines are trained to operate anywhere in the world in all environments, under any condition and circumstance, as a rapid reaction force. The Korps Mariniers can be deployed to a given... |
P90 TR | — | 2001- | ||
 Nigeria |
National Intelligence Agency National Intelligence Agency (Nigeria) The National Intelligence Agency is a Nigerian government division tasked with overseeing foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations-History:... (NIA) |
P90 | 100 | 2011- | |
 Pakistan |
Special Service Group (SSG) of the Pakistan Army Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan... |
— | — | — | |
 Papua New Guinea |
Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) | — | — | — | |
 Peru |
Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales (GRUFE) of the Peruvian Armed Forces (used in the rescue of hostages in the 1997 Japanese embassy hostage crisis Japanese embassy hostage crisis The Japanese embassy hostage crisis began on 17 December 1996 in Lima, Peru, when 14 members of the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement took hostage hundreds of high-level diplomats, government and military officials and business executives who were attending a party at the official residence of... known as Operation Chavín de Huantar Operation Chavín de Huantar Operation Chavín de Huantar was a military operation in which a team of one hundred and forty-two commandos of the Peruvian Armed Forces ended the 1997 Japanese embassy hostage crisis by raiding the Japanese ambassador's residence and freeing the hostages held there by the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary... ) |
— | — | — | |
| Fuerza de Operaciones Especiales (FOES) of the Peruvian Navy Peruvian Navy The Peruvian Navy is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to 200 nautical miles from the Peruvian littoral... |
P90 | 53 | — | ||
| Paracaidistas del Ejército (Peruvian Army Peruvian Army The Peruvian Army is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with safeguarding the independence, sovereignty and integrity of national territory on land through military force. Additional missions include assistance in safeguarding internal security, conducting disaster relief operations... paratroopers) |
— | — | — | ||
 Philippines |
Special Action Force Special Action Force The Special Action Force is the National Mobile Unit of the Philippine National Police. It is formed along the lines of the British Army Special Air Service, but with different recruitment and selection procedures... (SAF) of the Philippine National Police Philippine National Police The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines... |
— | — | — | |
 Poland |
Grupa Reagowania Operacyjno-Manewrowego GROM GROM is one of five special forces units of the Polish Armed Forces. It was officially activated on July 8, 1990... (GROM) special forces (used primarily for dignitary protection) |
P90 TR | — | 2006- | |
| Biuro Ochrony Rządu (BOR) | P90 | — | 2007- | ||
 Portugal |
Grupo de Operações Especiais Grupo de Operações Especiais (Portugal) Grupo de Operações Especiais - GOE is the Portuguese PSP special operations unit, manned slightly over 200 elements.... (GOE) of the Polícia de Segurança Pública Polícia de Segurança Pública The Polícia de Segurança Pública - PSP is the Portuguese police force that works in large urban areas. Rural towns and areas are under the protection of the Portuguese Republican National Guard... |
— | — | 2002- | |
 Kingdom of Romania |
Detaşamentul de Intervenţie Rapidă Detasamentul de Interventie Rapida Detaşamentul Special de Protecţie şi Intervenţie of the Romanian Ministry of Defense is an elite special operations unit of the Romanian military... special operations group of the Romanian Military |
— | — | — | |
 Saudi Arabia |
Special Emergency Force Special Emergency Force The Emergency Force is a special operations counter-terrorism unit of the Saudi Arabian General Security. Similar units include the FBI Hostage Rescue Team and the French GIGN... |
P90 | 500 | 1992- | |
 Singapore |
Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation The Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation is an elite branch of the Singapore Armed Forces . An offensive unit, it specialises in pre-emptive operations involving small groups of specially trained soldiers in enemy territory... (CDO FN) |
— | 500 | 2002- | |
 Spain |
Grupo Especial de Operaciones Grupo Especial de Operaciones The Grupo Especial de Operaciones , commonly known as GEOs, are the Special Operations Forces of the Spanish Cuerpo Nacional de Policía of Spain. They are stationed in Guadalajara near the capital, Madrid. The GEO has response capabilities and is responsible for VIP protection duties, as well as... (GEO) of the Cuerpo Nacional de Policía |
P90 TR | — | — | |
| Escuadrón de Zapadores Paracaidistas Spanish special operations Spain has a long history of combating domestic and international violence and of training units for special warfare or intervention. The following military and police units currently operate under a Special Operations mandate:Navy... (EZAPAC) special group of the Ejército del Aire Spanish Air Force -The early stages:Hot air balloons had been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Alfredo Kindelán, Leonardo Torres y Quevedo directed the construction of the first Spanish dirigible in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located... (Spanish Air Force) |
P90, P90 TR |
— | — | ||
 Suriname |
Military of Suriname Military of Suriname After the creation of the Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Army was entrusted with the defence of Suriname, while the defence of the Netherlands Antilles was the responsibility of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The army set up a separate Troepenmacht in Suriname... |
— | 900 | 2001- | |
 Republic of China |
Republic of China Armed Forces | P90 | — | 1992- | |
 Thailand |
กองทัพบกไทย (Royal Thai Army) special units | — | — | — | |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago... |
— | — | — | |
 Turkey |
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been Prime Minister of Turkey since 2003 and is chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party , which holds a majority of the seats in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Erdoğan served as Mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998. He graduated in 1981 from Marmara... 's close protection teams |
— | — | — | |
| Polis Özel tim-Özel Harekat Timi counter-terrorism group | — | — | — | ||
 Ukraine |
Ukrainian police force (unspecified) | P90 LV | 30 | 2008- | |
 United States |
U.S. Federal Protective Service United States Federal Protective Service The Federal Protective Service is the federal police force of the Secretary of Homeland Security. As a component of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and Programs Directorate within DHS Headquarters, FPS is responsible for law enforcement and security of nearly 9,000... branch of the ICE |
P90 | — | 2001- | |
| U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service | — | — | — | ||
| U.S. Secret Service | P90 TR | — | 1990s- | ||
| Addison police department in Texas Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... (first agency in the country to issue it to patrol cars) |
PS90 TR | 52 | 2007- | ||
| Alaska State Troopers Alaska State Troopers The Division of Alaska State Troopers is the state police agency of Alaska. It is a division of the Alaska Department of Public Safety . The Alaska State Troopers are a full service law enforcement agency and handle both traffic and criminal law enforcement... in Alaska Alaska Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait... |
P90 LV | 9 | — | ||
| Birmingham Police Department Birmingham Police Department (Alabama) The Birmingham Police Department is the police department of the city of Birmingham, Alabama.-Fallen officers:Since the establishment of the Birmingham Police Department, 47 officers have died in the line of duty.-See also:... SWAT in Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
P90 | — | — | ||
| Bryan police department SWAT in Texas | — | — | — | ||
| Creve Coeur Creve Coeur, Missouri Creve Coeur, derived from French for "heartbreak" , is a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in west St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The city derives its name from Creve Coeur Lake, which is shaped like a broken heart. The population was 17,833 at the 2010 census... police department in Missouri Missouri Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... |
— | — | — | ||
| Edina Edina, Minnesota Edina is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and a first-ring suburb situated immediately southwest of Minneapolis. Edina began as a small farming and milling community in the 1860s. The population was 47,941 at the 2010 census.-Geography:... police department in Minnesota Minnesota Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state... |
— | 11 | 2005- | ||
| Houston Police Department Houston Police Department The Houston Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Houston, Texas, United States and some surrounding areas. Its headquarters are in 1200 Travis in Downtown Houston.... SWAT in Texas (first local law enforcement agency in the country to adopt and use the weapon) |
P90 | 5 | 1999- | ||
| Kutztown Kutztown, Pennsylvania Kutztown is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Allentown and northeast of Reading. As of the 2000 census, the borough has a total population of 5,067. It is the site of Kutztown University.- History :... police department in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
— | — | — | ||
| Olathe Olathe, Kansas Olathe is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Kansas, United States. Located in northeastern Kansas, it is also the fifth most populous city in the state, with a population of 125,872 at the 2010 census. As a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, Olathe is the fourth-largest city in the... police department ERT in Kansas Kansas Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south... |
— | 23 | 2001- | ||
| Passaic County Passaic County, New Jersey Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson... sheriff's department SWAT in New Jersey New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware... |
— | — | 2002- | ||
| Richland County Sheriff's Department Richland County Sheriff's Department The Richland County Sheriff's Department is the agency charged with the law enforcement for the unincorporated area's of Richland County, South Carolina, USA. The agency is led by Sheriff Leon Lott and employs 700 sworn deputies.... SRT in South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence... |
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| Sioux Falls Police Department SWAT in South Dakota South Dakota South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over... |
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| Sparta Sparta Township, New Jersey Sparta Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 19,722... Police Department in New Jersey New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware... |
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| Zapata County sheriff's department in Texas | — | — | — | ||
 Venezuela |
Bodyguards assigned to the Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores | — | — | — | |
| COPEMI unit of the Armada Bolivariana de Venezuela (Venezuelan Navy) | — | — | — | ||
| CSAR unit of the Aviación Militar Venezolana (Venezuelan Air Force) | — | — | — | ||
| Ejército Libertador de Venezuela (Venezuelan Army) | — | — | — | ||
| Guardia Nacional de Venezuela Venezuelan National Guard The Venezuelan National Guard , also called the Armed Forces of Cooperation , is one of the four components of the National Armed Forces of Venezuela. The National Guard can serve as gendarmerie, perform civil defense roles, or serve as a reserve light infantry force... (Venezuelan National Guard) |
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| Various police Law enforcement in Venezuela Law enforcement in Venezuela is highly fragmented, being split across multiple police agencies of various types. The National Guard, with around 33,000 officers, is attached to the Ministry of Defence. Cuerpo de Investigaciones Científicas, Penales y Criminalísticas, with around 8,000 officers, is... forces |
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See also
- AR-57AR-57The AR-57, also known as the AR Five-seven, is an upper receiver for the AR-15/M16 rifle lower receiver, firing 5.7x28mm rounds from standard FN P90 magazines. It was designed by Rhineland Arms, Inc and is currently produced by AeroPrecision, Inc of Tacoma, Washington, USA...
— Carbine by Rhineland Arms, chambered for 5.7×28mm ammunition and utilizing FN P90 magazines. - FN Five-seven — Pistol chambered for 5.7×28mm ammunition, designed by FN Herstal as a companion weapon to the FN P90.
- Heckler & Koch MP7Heckler & Koch MP7The MP7 is a German submachine gun manufactured by Heckler & Koch and chambered for the 4.6×30mm cartridge. It was designed with the new cartridge to meet NATO requirements published in 1989, as these requirements call for a personal defense weapon class firearm, with a greater ability to defeat...
— Competing personal defense weapon designed by Heckler & Koch. - KAC 6x35mm PDW — Experimental personal defense weapon designed by Knight's Armament Company.
- Magpul PDRMagpul PDRThe Magpul PDR is a compact bullpup-style 5.56x45mm carbine being developed by Magpul Industries. Although still in development, it has garnered some attention, largely due to its "futuristic" appearance...
— Compact bullpup carbine being developed by Magpul Industries. - ST Kinetics CPWST Kinetics CPWThe CPW is a multi-caliber submachine gun developed by ST Kinetics of Singapore as a PDW-class firearm. The prototype is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum but the manufacturer assures that the weapon's modular design allows for a simple caliber conversion to either 5.7x28mm or 4.6x30mm.-Design...
— Multi-caliber submachine gun designed by ST Kinetics. - VBR-Belgium PDWVBR-Belgium PDWThe VBR-PDW is a personal defense weapon chambered in the 7.92x24mm round and is designed by Rik Van Bruaene. It uses the double action firing mechanism from a Beretta M92F Pistol and magazines from Glock pistols. As of 2010, it is still at prototype stage. It has a retractable buttstock to...
— Personal defense weapon being developed by VBR-Belgium.
External links
— FNH USA- PS90 Owner's Manual
- Experiences with the FN P90 — Tactical Response
- FN PS90 5.7mm Carbine — Law & Order
Video