FN P90
FN Herstal · Personal Defense Weapon · In Production · 1990
Also known as: Project 1990, PS90
Overview
The FN P90 is a select-fire personal defense weapon chambered in 5.7x28mm FN, produced by FN Herstal since 1990. Featuring a 50-round magazine capacity, this personal defense weapon offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2540 g (89.6 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 2860 g (100.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 500 mm (19.69") |
| Barrel Length | 263 mm (10.35") |
| Height | 210 mm (8.27") |
| Width | 55 mm (2.17") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Closed Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 50 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 715 m/s (2346 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 512 J (378 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1800 m (1968 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 900 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 228.6 mm (9.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Polymer |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 5.7x28mm FN · primary — also known as 5.7x28mm, 5.7mm FN
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Ambidextrous Safety Selector, Trigger Guard Safety
- Features: Bullpup Design, Horizontal Magazine, Ambidextrous Controls, Integrated Reflex Sight, Chrome Lined Barrel, Select Fire, Accessory Rail, Transparent Magazine
Variants
- FN P90 TR — Tactical Rail
- FN PS90 — Civilian Semi Auto
- FN PS90 TR — Civilian Tactical Rail
Service history
Operators
- United States Secret Service · adopted 1997
- Belgian Armed Forces · adopted 1991
- French Armed Forces · adopted 1995
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Austrian Armed Forces
- Greek Armed Forces
- Indian Armed Forces
- Malaysian Armed Forces
- Netherlands Armed Forces
- Polish Armed Forces
- Mexican Armed Forces
- Houston Police Department SWAT · adopted 1999
- Peru National Police
- Spanish Armed Forces
- Singapore Armed Forces
Conflicts
- War on Terror (2001-present)
- Mexican Drug War (2006-present)
Production
Estimated total produced: 200,000 · Production years: 1990-present
Over 200,000 units produced. Adopted by military and law enforcement in over 40 countries.
Origin
Country of origin: Belgium
Designer: Stephane Ferrard
Notes
The P90's 5.7x28mm cartridge was developed specifically for this weapon system and offers a flat trajectory, minimal recoil, and armor-penetration capabilities exceeding NATO standards. The P90 TR variant introduced in 1999 features a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny triple rail interface instead of the integrated reflex sight. The civilian PS90 variant, introduced in 2005, has an extended 407mm barrel to comply with US NFA regulations and is semi-automatic only. The P90's unique magazine design rotates cartridges 90 degrees as they feed, allowing for the compact bullpup configuration while maintaining a full-length barrel.
Background
The P90's revolutionary horizontal 50-round magazine rotates each cartridge 90 degrees as it feeds, solving the engineering challenge of fitting a high-capacity magazine onto a compact bullpup. The U.S. Secret Service adopted it in 1997 for presidential protection details, where its compact size and armor-piercing capability are ideal for close-protection work.