Friday, May 16, 2025
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result
Home Defence & Military News Guns & Firearms News

Fabrique Nationale Herstal P-90: The modern Personal Defense Weapon

by Jacky Chia
July 31, 2015
in Guns & Firearms News
2 min read
0
Fabrique Nationale Herstal P-90: The modern Personal Defense Weapon
14
VIEWS

The Fabrique Nationale Herstal (FNH, or simply FN) P-90 was born out of the need for a modern and updated solution as a means to enable combat support and non-frontline military personnel to defend themselves against potential enemy attack.

The requirements of such a Personal Defense Weapon (PDW), as it became to be known, were given by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in a request in 1989, which states that the weapon was to have ‘greater range, accuracy, and terminal performance than the 9x19mm cartridge’ and that ‘it was to be capable of penetrating body armor’. Said PDW also had to weigh under 3kg when unloaded, and would be required to be easily maneuverable in confined spaces, such as in the cab of a truck.

FN was the first arms manufacturer to respond to NATO’s request, and developed a revolutionary, select-fire bullpup PDW in 1990, that was chambered in their new, proprietary 5.7x28mm cartridge. FN’s P-90 featured an innovative and futuristic design, incorporating a compact, all-polymer receiver with a 10.4-inch long barrel, an ambidextrous changing handle on both sides of the receiver, blowback-operated action from a closed bolt, a bottom ejection port, a unique top-feeding see-through magazine holding 50 rounds of 5.7x28mm, as well as an integrated non-magnified, tritium-illuminated optical sight located on the front top-end of the weapon. This design enabled the P-90 to be fully-ambidextrous, with the brass casings being ejected downwards rather than to the right or the left of the weapon, eliminating any chance of hitting the user in the face.

At just 19.9 inches in overall length, the P-90 is a sleek, easy-to-carry and deploy weapon against threats which may arise at unexpected times and places. When the situation calls for suppressive fire, the P-90 is capable of unleashing a hail of high-velocity 5.7mm rounds at a cyclic rate of 850-1,100 rounds per minute. The proprietary magazine that fits flush against the top of the receiver also contributes to the P-90’s compactness, as compared to a similar sized firearm with a conventional, bottom-feeding magazine which can snag or catch onto the user’s gear during use. The fire selector on the P-90 is located just below the trigger, making the switch from Semi- to Fully-Automatic a simple twist of the finger.

The FN P-90 has seen much use with over 40 countries worldwide since 1991, including Belgium, Austria, Argentina, Poland, Singapore, and the United States. Due to its sleek design and attributes, the P-90 has increasingly taken on more of an offensive, rather than defensive, role by many counter-terrorism and special operations forces around the globe.

Tags: 5.7x28mmbullpupFabrique NationaleFNHNATOP-90Polymer
Previous Post

Syria air defence shoots down US drone: state media

Next Post

Indian Air Force to Use BrahMos Missile by 2016

Related Posts

gun laws small arms

Brazil judge suspends easing of gun laws, citing election violence fears

September 6, 2022

A Brazilian Supreme Court judge on Monday temporarily suspended several provisions implemented by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro that allowed people...

China asks UN Security Council for ban on small arms to Haiti: diplomats

China asks UN Security Council for ban on small arms to Haiti: diplomats

July 15, 2022

China has asked the United Nations Security Council to vote on banning small arms to Haiti, sanctioning the Caribbean nation's...

Next Post
DPP-2009 to Boost Technology Transfer to Indian Industry

Indian Air Force to Use BrahMos Missile by 2016

Latest Defense News

Trump announces ‘full and immediate’ India-Pakistan ceasefire

Trump announces ‘full and immediate’ India-Pakistan ceasefire

May 10, 2025
Pakistan says Indian missiles strike air bases as conflict spirals

Pakistan says Indian missiles strike air bases as conflict spirals

May 10, 2025
J-10C fighter jet

Pakistan says India has brought neighbours ‘closer to major conflict’

May 9, 2025
North Korea fires multiple suspected cruise missiles

North Korea fires flurry of short-range ballistic missiles

May 9, 2025
China says ‘closely watching’ Ukraine situation after Russian attack

China vows to stand with Russia in face of ‘hegemonic bullying’

May 9, 2025
Israeli Harop Drone

Pakistan shoots down 25 Indian drones near military installations

May 9, 2025

Defense Forum Discussions

  • Germany
  • Royal Canadian Navy Discussions and updates
  • Russia - General Discussion.
  • The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread
  • United States Defense Thread
  • Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
  • USAF News and Discussion
  • Indonesia: 'green water navy'
  • The Royal Navy Discussions and Updates
  • General Naval News
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com