FEINDEF 2025: Spain's Instalaza introduces new reusable 90mm rocket launcher for modern infantry.

On the occasion of FEINDEF 2025, Spanish defense company Instalaza, officially presented the Hispano MPW (Multipurpose Weapon), a new 90 mm reusable shoulder-fired rocket launcher designed to meet the evolving needs of modern infantry. The system marks a significant evolution in the anti-tank and multi-role light weapon segment by introducing reusable architecture to the proven C90 ammunition family, now enhanced with extended-range capabilities. This innovation enhances modularity, logistics, and mobility, crucial for today’s battlefields where versatility and digital integration are key.
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The Hispano MPW is a 90 mm recoilless launcher able to fire the full range of C90 ammunition, including anti-armor, anti-bunker, dual-purpose, smoke, and enhanced blast rounds (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Hispano MPW is a 90 mm recoilless launcher equipped with a reusable metallic smoothbore barrel, covered in protective fabric to reduce thermal signature. Designed to fire the full range of C90 ammunition, including anti-armor, anti-bunker, dual-purpose, smoke, and enhanced blast rounds, the weapon stands out for its modularity and digital fire control. Its integrated Vosel-H fire control system (FCS), developed entirely by Instalaza, features day/night capabilities with optical and thermal imaging, laser rangefinder, and automatic ballistic correction based on round type and ambient conditions. The FCS automatically adjusts targeting by measuring angular speed and environmental variables, simplifying aiming for the operator. The launcher is under one meter in length and weighs approximately 5.8 kg without the FCS, making it suitable for airborne troops and mobile infantry.

Instalaza developed the Hispano MPW in response to client demands for a reusable, cost-effective solution that maintains compatibility with legacy ammunition stocks while offering access to enhanced munitions. The context of this development is framed by growing European defense industrial autonomy, increased demand for lightweight anti-armor weapons due to the war in Ukraine, and the strategic shift toward infantry-centric, decentralized combat doctrines. In this environment, the Hispano MPW not only offers performance gains but also strengthens the logistical and operational flexibility of the units deploying it. With conflicts now often occurring in urban, confined or irregular terrains, the need for compact, powerful, and smart rocket systems is more pressing than ever.

The operational development of the Hispano builds on decades of experience with the C90 family, which has been widely used by Spanish forces and exported to multiple customers worldwide. The emergence of the Hispano MPW is in part a reaction to real-world combat feedback, notably from Ukrainian forces who have praised the C90’s reliability and effectiveness against armored vehicles. It is precisely from this Ukrainian experience that the new system takes its name: “Hispano” was the field nickname given by Ukrainian soldiers to the C90 systems delivered by Spain. Recognizing this, Instalaza adopted the name officially, paying tribute to those operating its systems under fire. From a development standpoint, the Hispano maintains backward compatibility with legacy C90 rounds, thereby offering major cost and logistic advantages, while introducing new two-stage extended-range munitions capable of reaching targets up to 650 meters away.

Compared to other systems such as the Swedish AT4 or the German Panzerfaust 3, the Hispano MPW distinguishes itself by offering both reuse capability and a digitally integrated fire control system in a compact form factor. While the AT4 is typically a single-use launcher and the Panzerfaust 3 offers advanced targeting options, neither integrates extended-range dual-propulsion munitions in the same class with a full suite of fire control options and backward-compatible logistics. Furthermore, unlike legacy RPG-26 and M72 LAW models, the Hispano benefits from modern sensor fusion, allowing for enhanced engagement of moving targets with high first-hit probability. It also reflects a historical parallel with the evolution from the Carl Gustaf M2 to the M4 variant, where reduced weight, improved sights, and ammunition compatibility represented the primary innovations, showing Instalaza’s alignment with global development trajectories in infantry anti-armor technology.

The strategic implications of the Hispano MPW are notable. Geopolitically, the system reinforces Spain’s role in the European defense industrial base and provides NATO forces with an agile, modern anti-armor toolset. Militarily, the Hispano serves as a force multiplier, particularly for units engaged in dispersed, decentralized operations. Its fielding by Ukraine would add precision engagement capacity against light and medium armor, reinforcing tactical defense capabilities at platoon or squad level. The compatibility with existing C90 stocks enables quicker training and fielding, while the extended-range ammunition allows engagement beyond typical close-combat distances, thus providing standoff advantage against enemy armor or fortified positions. From a geostrategic standpoint, systems like the Hispano MPW represent the shift toward adaptable, digitally integrated infantry weapons that support interoperability among NATO allies and partners facing asymmetric threats or conventional adversaries.

The Hispano MPW unveiled by Instalaza at FEINDEF 2025 embodies the convergence of combat feedback, industrial innovation, and battlefield versatility. By leveraging the proven C90 ecosystem and enhancing it with digital targeting and extended range munitions, the Hispano MPW offers modern armies a smart, agile, and cost-effective tool for anti-armor and multi-role combat engagements. As defense procurement shifts toward scalable, interoperable, and user-friendly systems, the Hispano’s combination of backward compatibility and forward-facing capabilities ensures its relevance on the battlefield, both today and in the conflicts of tomorrow.