120mm Spear Mk2 mortar system mounted on a 4x4 vehicle. The Mk2 complex is a further development of the Spear complex. The ELSAT 2100 integrated satellite communications system allows you to connect to the unified army command and control network
Mortar systems are a key component of military equipment used by both small and large infantry units. They perform key tasks as suppression weapons capable of striking enemy forces at various distances and behind cover with indirect fire. Mortars are also one of the most affordable and relatively inexpensive weapons systems compared to other direct and indirect fire systems.
The light and heavy mortars served by the crews can be called the "pocket artillery" of the infantry units. These systems can usually quickly take a position and withdraw from it. Mortars are usually not used against mechanized formations and are most effective when it is necessary to thwart enemy infantry attacks or to support their own infantry with fire. Although their destructive effect is less than that of artillery, which is often used against armored units, the speed and mobility of mortars means that they are not the least in the arsenals of the ground forces.
What to choose
There are three main types of mortars, which perform very different tasks depending on the doctrine of the individual branches and branches of the military: platoon-level units and special forces usually use the smallest type, 60 mm; at the company level, the most common caliber is 81 mm; and the largest caliber 120 mm serves as a battalion-level support weapon.
In fact, the size and capabilities of light and heavy mortars are related to the way they are used. 60-mm mortar can hit targets at a distance of 100 meters to 2 km; 81 mm is effective at distances of 2-3 km, but can send a mine up to 7 km; and 120 mm is capable of hitting targets at a distance of 8 km to 10 km, depending on the ammunition and barrel characteristics.
Larger 120mm systems have longer mortar barrels, integrate recoil reduction systems and offer a wider range of mortar shells. This means that they provide greater range and accuracy, since mass, aerodynamics and propelling performance are the determining factors here.
A spokesman for Hirtenberger Defense Systems said that the cost of mortars in the global market increases with size and power and depends on the quality of the solution implementation and the components included, such as optics or fire control systems. The cost of a 60mm mortar ranges from $ 8000 to $ 17000, rising to $ 9000-22500 for the 81mm system and 22500-100000 for the 120mm caliber, punching the top bar when components such as a trailer are turned on.
A spokesman for Saab Bofors Dynamics explained that the light weight of the 60mm mortar means that it can be carried by the crew and does not require transportation by a vehicle. Its advantage is that it “can get involved in work from remote positions without attracting attention, which inevitably happens when using vehicles. It can be quickly deployed with less effort and phenomenal freedom of movement.”
The total mass of 60-mm systems is about 20 kg, and high-explosive fragmentation mines weigh 1.8 kg, in connection with which a calculation of two or three people is sufficient to service them. Special Operations Forces mortars typically weigh less than 8 kg, allowing one person to service it and the other to bring ammunition. Landing mortars are carried by hand and do not have a bipod.
In comparison, the 81-mm mortar weighs about 60 kg, and the shells for it are 5-6 kg. As a consequence, a crew of three to four people is required to transport this system. The 120-mm mortar must serve a crew of at least four people, and if it is deployed outside the vehicle, a base plate and a two-leg are needed.
Due to the different sizes of the three types of mortars, the alerting time varies. According to the company, this is less than 1 minute for a 60mm spetsnaz mortar and 3-4 minutes for 81mm and 120mm systems, although with a base plate it will take a little longer. However, this time also depends on other factors, for example, distance, projectile and order of action.
The 60 mm Hirtenberger complex, available with different barrel lengths and without a bipod, is perfect for special units
Pushing evolution
The industry is tirelessly working to improve these fundamental characteristics of mortars. For example, in order to increase the firepower of 60-mm and 81-mm models, Saab has developed a MAPAM (Mortar Anti-Personnel Anti-Materiel) grenade, which is designed to increase the explosive effect of a mortar in the target area. The MAPAM technology is as follows: the shell of the projectile is filled with a polymer binder with 2500 steel balls, which, during expansion, have the same velocity and whose dispersion occurs mainly in height, which increases lethality and reduces associated losses. The outer casing adds about 1000 more shards to the balls. The company said this allows 60mm weapons to have an impact comparable to that of an 81mm projectile. In turn, the impact of an 81 mm grenade is akin to that of a conventional 120 mm mine.
In October 2018, the Swiss Army 81mm selected Expal's mortar for its $ 116 million mortar replacement program. The purchase includes the mortars themselves, optics and the MSA. In order to expand the functionality of mortars, as part of a separate project, since 2005, the company has been developing its EIMOS (Expal Integrated Mortar System) mortar complex.
Army doctrine may dictate that 81mm mortars belong to the infantry, while 120mm variants are more likely to belong to light artillery. While 60mm systems are carried mostly by soldiers in the field, 81mm mortars can be mounted on vehicles due to their mass.
In order to increase mobility and increase the range of action, the EIMOS complex allows the installation of a 60/81-mm mortar on a 4x4 vehicle. However, the installation in this case is not as simple as it seems. Typically, the forces of a shot from a conventional mortar are transmitted through the slab to the ground, but if the mortar is installed on a vehicle, then stability and accuracy problems may arise, since the system does not rest on the ground.
An Expal spokesperson noted that this type of system is “extremely complex and advanced. The goal is to create systems that deal with recoil forces as efficiently as possible - to find a balance between strength and lightness. When firing from a mobile mortar complex, it is necessary to control the recoil to absorb the forces arising from the shot. This always means adapting to the vehicle and its characteristics, although lighter platforms are potentially preferable.”
The reason for developing EIMOS is to increase survivability through mobility. When firing a mortar, its position can be spotted by the enemy, which increases the vulnerability of the crew to return fire. The ability to shoot and drive - shoot and quickly change position - is very important in mortar operations.
“In this regard, mortar systems installed on 4x4 or 8x8 vehicles are a smart solution. EIMOS is a good example of the evolution of traditional systems. A 60 / 81mm Expal mortar mounted on a 4x4 vehicle can be ready to fire in 20 seconds and instantly you can change position after that. These seconds are very important on the battlefield."
The 81 mm M8-1165 and M8-1365 mortars developed by Hirtenberger for the Austrian army are ideal for medium range suppression missions
The company sees the EIMOS complex as a "natural evolution" of traditional 60 / 81mm mortar systems. The use of a vehicle means that additional projectiles can be taken on board to increase the firepower. Systems with a higher level of automation can also be used to reduce the calculation and a larger number of sensors in order to increase range and accuracy. “In order to improve the accuracy of onboard mortars, geolocation sensors and navigation systems with very high accuracy are used in combination with electric drives integrated with highly sensitive positioning sensors,” said a company spokesman.
“All this information is processed by the OMS [ballistic computer], and other external information, such as weather data, is also processed. The integration of systems such as Expal's Techfire into mortars and artillery systems automates and accelerates all direct and indirect fire tasks, whether it be a separate gun or battery, allows for increased accuracy and control of fire support processes … they work as a ballistic computer, automatic targeting and firing systems, as well as command and control systems."
Digital transformation
The problems with installing an 81 mortar are comparable to installing a 120 mm system - much heavier and much more powerful. ST Engineering Land Systems has developed a recoil mechanism to reduce the load on the carrier platform. A company spokesman said the recoil system of its SRAMS (Super Rapid Advanced Mortar System) mortar complex allows the weapon to be mounted on both tracked and wheeled vehicles, including its own articulated Bronco all-terrain vehicle and 4x4 vehicles. Reducing the impact on the platform means less movement, and this in turn has a positive effect on the accuracy of the mortar during prolonged firing.
Typical 120mm mortars offer long ranges and great firepower. Their barrel can withstand high pressure in the chamber, which makes it possible to send larger warheads over long distances. The task of 120-mm systems is to provide support for the infantry, but their mass can become a serious problem for the calculation.
“The 120mm mortar is not ideal for manual transport, so most of the system's components are either towed or installed on a mobile platform,” said a spokesman for ST Engineering. - Bringing a towed or conventional mortar into a firing position requires at least 10-15 minutes and from four to six people. The 120mm SRAMS is serviced by a two-man crew and is deployed very quickly. After stopping the platform and determining the coordinates of the target, the first shot can be fired within 30 seconds."
The introduction of an automatic loading system and an advanced firing mechanism made it possible to introduce a continuous fire mode and increase the rate of fire. While this can raise the barrel temperature to dangerous levels, the SRAMS complex has a sensor for detecting this limit, which disables automatic loading until the temperature drops to a safe level. In addition, a cooling system can be added to avoid reaching extreme temperatures and maximizing the duration of the fire.
Ultimately, digital transformation has played a revolutionary role in improving the efficiency of mortars of all calibers and sizes. The integration of GPS and networking capabilities has made it easier to use this weapon system as a mobile platform for maneuvering forces and has improved accuracy up to 10 meters.
“Accuracy is a combination of mortar, ammunition and external ballistics,” said a spokesman for ST Engineering. "The SRAM of the SRAMS complex allows meteorological data to be included in the calculation in order to improve the external ballistics."
According to the company, to reduce the firing cycle, the SRAMS complex is equipped with an OMS and an inertial navigation unit with GPS. It provides the required precise direction (azimuth) for SRAMS, allowing the integrated complex to operate either as a stand-alone unit or as part of a platoon with ST Engineering's iBattlefield Management System (iBMS) network connected.
“The ultimate goal is for the integrated system to be able to calculate and aim in less than 30 seconds. Since the mortar complex is installed on the vehicle, the “fired and left” task can be completed in less than a minute after the last round has been fired.”
ST Engineering has signed a cooperation agreement with the Austrian mortar manufacturer, Hirtenberger, to promote the SRAMS complex with MSA and ammunition produced by the latter.
Improved LMS can increase the effectiveness of weapons; in this regard, at Eurosatory 2018, Hirtenberger presented its digital model GRAM (Grid Aiming Mode) for a 60 mm light mortar. When firing mortars of this type, soldiers usually need to see the target in line of sight, but the GRAM system allows you to fire from cover. GRAM uses GPS and ballistic data to measure azimuth and elevation and present these values to the operator. The soldier can enter the range and type of projectile into the LMS, which then calculates the firing mission. The system can be used without GPS and can be integrated into a larger operational control network, where it can receive target data from other sources.
The Hirtenberger 60mm M6-895 mortar has been in service with the British Army since 2007, when it was purchased as an urgent need to replace the 51mm L9A1 mortar.
60/81-mm EIMOS complex can be installed on any 4x4 platform; it integrates the Techfire fire support information system from Expal as a ballistic computer and command and control unit
Staying in touch
The Israeli company Elbit Systems is considering inclusion in the general network as a core element of mortar operations. The company manufactures the 120mm Spear Mk2 system with an all-electric recoil system for 4x4 vehicles and other tracked vehicles such as armored personnel carriers.
An Elbit spokesman said that the Spear complex can be connected to a battle management system (SMS), which allows commanders to plan operations, knowing that mortars can quickly switch between firing missions and positions. "The mortar platoon can be distributed across the battlefield, supporting its forces from different angles and ranges, increasing survivability and efficiency."
The use of the SMS makes it possible to provide fire support with one or more mortars to any unit visible on the network. A company spokesman said in this regard that “targets can be quickly captured by closing the loop between the sensor and the mortar, as in other fire support systems. If you are not online, then you fall out of the cage and help will come much later."
According to Elbit, operators are constantly asking to increase the range of indirect guidance systems. It is desirable that the largest modern 155-mm artillery system reach 40 km, and the largest 120-mm mortar could send mines for 10-15 km. The company said its Spear family can reach a range of 16 km using GPS, lasers and projectiles with control surfaces.
Elbit is supplying its 120mm CARDOM pivot-mounted mortar to Denmark for installation on Piranha V armored vehicles. The contract worth $ 15.4 million is due in 2019.
In addition to the technical aspects of firing from a mortar from a vehicle, there is a problem associated with the integration of the system into larger combat formations along with command posts and medical and service units.
The main problems are associated with the design of the hull structure, so that it better distributes the forces acting during firing, it is also necessary to fit into the transport rules limiting the length, height and width, and at the same time have sufficient ammunition and volume for the vehicle's crew. Additional requirements may determine the levels of protection of the cabin against mine explosions, etc.
The Finnish company Patria's approach was to create a fully rugged tower system that could offer a disruptive leap in technology and capabilities. As a result, the company developed two systems: the NEMO (New Mortar) turret system is a single-barreled automatic 120-mm mortar; and the AMOS (Advanced Mortar System) is a double-barreled tower mortar, served by the crew.
According to a Patria spokesperson, “Together with intelligent fire control systems and semi-automatic loading systems, they open up new ways of using mortars in battle, for example, the“Flurry of Fire”(MRSI - Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact) firing mode; all shells fired in a certain time interval arrive at the target simultaneously), shooting in motion, direct fire, MRSI at different targets, etc.
He explained that when receiving the coordinates of the target, the operator can send data about the target and the firing task to the OMS of the NEMO or AMOS complexes, and then everything, including ballistics with vertical guidance angles and azimuth and type of ammunition, is calculated automatically.
“The loader charges the projectile into the charger, and then the operator can carry out a firing mission. All this in less than 30 seconds. With a traditional mortar, the same sequence will take quite a few minutes.”
Patria believes there is a growing trend towards more mobile options, especially tower options, rather than turntable options. As a result, the company has won several export contracts for its NEMO system in recent years. The company cites the protection offered by the towers, as well as ergonomics, as the main reasons for choosing.
“Compared to traditional large-caliber mortar companies, our modern turret mortars can provide the same firepower, but at the same time the need for personnel is reduced by three times. The AMOS calculation consists of 4 people and the driver, while the NEMO calculation is three people plus the crew of the car or ship."
Ukrainian 120-mm mobile mortar complex Bars-8MMK
Demonstration of concern
This type of mobility is becoming increasingly important, in particular in areas of active warfare, such as in eastern Ukraine. In 2018, the new 120-mm mobile mortar complex Bars-8MMK, using the still Soviet transportable mortar 2B11, installed on the Bars-8 4x4 armored car, was tested in Ukraine with an MSA and pneumatic drives. Bars-8 MMK will be supplied to the Ukrainian army and special forces, but it is not yet clear when full-scale production will begin. In 2016, Ukraine completed tests of the portable 82-mm mortar KBA-48M1.
In November 2017, the Russian army adopted 24 self-propelled mortars 2C4 "Tulip" with modernized communications and control systems. Poland is concerned about Russian aggressiveness and therefore, as part of a program to modernize its ground forces, the Polish army should receive 64 Rak mortar complexes and 32 command posts based on the Rosomak 8x8 platform. This will form 6 mortar batteries. Huta Stalowa Wola plans to complete deliveries by the end of 2019 under a $ 265 million contract.
Another country worried about Russia's actions is Sweden, which is developing a 120mm Mjolner self-propelled mortar based on the CV90 BMP. Under a $ 68 million contract awarded to BAE Systems Hägglunds in December 2016, 40 Mjolner platforms will replace existing 120mm mortars towed by articulated Bv206 ATVs.
Tests were completed in December 2018 and the first four systems (which make up the platoon) were delivered in January this year. The second batch of 4 complexes is expected in August this year, and the last four vehicles are to be delivered in October 2023. The Mjolner mobile mortar complex will allow the Swedish army to carry out combat missions in the shortest possible time, without fear of being detected by counter-mortar radar.
Although advances in mortar technology have affected many countries around the world, the United States is trying to increase the range, putting aside the improvement in accuracy. The HEGM (High-Explosive Guided Mortar) programs of the US Army PERM (Precision Extended-Range Mortar) and the Marine Corps were frozen for several years.
Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems is working on mortar ammunition for this project, but ceased operations as a result of this freeze. However, her spokesman said that the company remains in contact with the American army.
The Army is still using existing XM395 precision mines developed by Orbital ATK (merged with Northrop Grumman in 2017) in 2012 as part of the Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative. The company supplied a high-precision guidance kit for the 120mm mortar, in which GPS guidance and control surfaces are combined in one unit. This block is screwed in instead of the standard fuse, after which the accuracy of the mortar shell is significantly increased.
“If the army wants more XM395 kits, we can make them in our factory, where we currently manufacture the PGK [high precision 155mm artillery shell], and they have quite a few of the same components,” explained a Northrop Grumman spokesman. "We recently expanded our PGK lineup and if the army is interested, we can ramp up production of the APMI kit (XM395)."
As more armies recognize the benefits of mortars and want to have them in their arsenals, the industry is likely to continue to develop these systems, for example, through increased range, improved mobility and interoperability.
