Guided Mortar Systems

NUMBER 51 • APRIL 2015

G
uided mortar systems are guided mortars from other types of artillery. Finally,
weapons intended to provide increased the increased accuracy of guided mortar sys-
firing accuracy and reduced ammu- tems has increased the utility of the mortar as
nition consumption over their conventional an anti-tank weapon, allowing for the more
counterparts. Mortars typically fire projec- accurate engagement of moving targets. The
& MARKETS

tiles intended for use against personnel, light advantages of guided mortar systems have
WEAPONS

armoured vehicles, and structures. They are made them increasingly popular weapons and
normally smooth-bore, muzzle-loading, indirect- they are now in service with several militaries
fire support weapons that allow the operators around the world.3
to engage targets that may not be within their Guided mortar systems first entered
line of sight. Conventional mortars do not have development more than thirty years ago.
recoil mechanisms, with the main recoil force Early attempts to develop guided mortar sys-
being transmitted directly to the ground via tems were limited by the comparatively small
the baseplate. Additionally, most mortars are size of mortar projectiles and fuzes compared
Research Notes

restricted in elevation, only capable of firing to larger guided missiles and guided artillery
at high-angle trajectories (above 45°), meaning projectiles. Advances in microelectronics have
that they cannot be used in the direct-fire sup- allowed for the development of effective guid-
port role (Ryan, 1982).1 Mortars are limited in ance packages and fuze assemblies within the
range and accuracy when compared to many size constraints of mortar projectiles (Weber,
other artillery systems. 2014). Guided mortar projectiles are consid-
Guided mortar systems allow for precision ered precision guided munitions (PGMs), and
targeting and increased first-round hit prob- are often part of a broader battlefield command
ability, and greatly reduce the potential for network that may include target-designation
collateral damage. The ATK XM395 120 mm systems, fire-control computers, and commu-
Precision Mortar, currently in service with the nications devices.
US Army under the Accelerated Precision In most cases guided mortar projectiles
Mortar Initiative, and the General Dynamics have been developed so that no modifications
Ordnance and Tactical Systems 81 mm and need to be made to the mortar tube itself, allow-
120 mm Roll Controlled Guided Mortar (RCGM)2 ing new munitions to be used with in-service
projectiles all have a circular error probable weapons. Guided mortar projectiles are often
(CEP) of less than ten metres, making them compatible with all smooth-bore mortars of
more than seven times as accurate as unguided the same calibre. Both smooth-bore and rifled
mortar projectiles in the US Army inventory guided mortar projectiles have been developed.
(Calloway, 2011; Habash, 2012). Conventional Guided mortar projectiles differ from un-
mortar systems typically require two or more guided mortar projectiles by their inclusion of
rounds to be fired in order to stabilize the firing a guidance and navigation unit (GNU) 4 and a
platform and make corrections for weather method of adjusting the munitions’ trajectory in
effects, if the latter have not been calculated in flight. Some guided mortar projectiles are pur-
the firing solution, before being capable of accu- pose-built, while others use existing (typically
rately delivering fire on target. Some guided in-service) mortar projectile bodies modified
mortar systems minimize or obviate this by the addition of a guidance assembly and a
requirement and allow for much lower ammu- tail assembly. This ‘bolt-on’ approach is similar
nition consumption. An especially desirable to the conversion of a general-purpose air-
advantage is that this allows for greater mobil- craft bomb into a PGM by the addition of a
ity, one of the characteristics that distinguish guidance kit. In-flight trajectory adjustments

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems 120 mm Roll Controlled Guided Mortar (RCGM) projectile, an example of a ‘bolt on’-type conversion kit that allows for the
use of in-service components such as the projectile body (warhead), ignition cartridge, propellant, and fuze.

Small Arms Survey Research Notes • Number 51 • April 2015 1

can be accomplished by a variety of also been developed and offered for
methods, including fins, motor-control sale by manufacturers from other coun-
options, and special pyrotechnic rota- tries, including China, Germany, and
tion charges (Weber, 2014). Guided mor- Israel (Weber, 2014). To date, guided About the
tar projectiles may also offer multiple mortar systems have not been docu- Small Arms Survey
fuzing options to the firer, including mented in the hands of non-state The Small Arms Survey is a global centre
impact (point-detonating), time-delay, armed groups; however, their increas- of excellence whose mandate is to generate
and proximity modes. Many guided ing prevalence on the battlefield may impartial, evidence-based, and policy-
mortar projectiles are fitted with a see this situation change in the future relevant knowledge on all aspects of
self-destruct mechanism to minimize (Berman, Gobinet, and Leff, 2011). small arms and armed violence. It is the
the risk of collateral damage from muni- Despite this risk, guided mortar sys- principal international source of exper-
tions that fail to function. tems require a certain level of training tise, information, and analysis on small
Two common methods of guidance and technical capability to be prop- arms and armed violence issues, and acts
are used in conjunction with these sys- erly employed, and are most effective as a resource for governments, policy-
tems: semi-active laser (SAL) guidance when supported by a wider battlefield makers, researchers, and civil society.
and satellite (typically GPS) guidance. command network. It is located in Geneva, Switzerland, at
The use of laser-designation technol- the Graduate Institute of International
and Development Studies.
ogy provides a high level of accuracy,
but requires a clear line-of-sight from Notes The Survey has an international staff
1 Not to be confused with direct aiming at with expertise in security studies, politi-
the laser target designator to the tar-
visible targets via an optical sight, which cal science, law, economics, development
get. Satellite guidance offers slightly
is one of the two conventional options for studies, sociology, and criminology, and
reduced accuracy, but removes the
aiming mortars, the other being forward collaborates with a network of researchers,
need for an observer to ensure that the observer(s) and a fire controller. partner institutions, non-governmental
munition remains on target. While 2 Also referred to in the manufacturer’s litera- organizations, and governments in more
laser guidance remains the global ture as the ‘Roll-Controlled Guided Mortar’
than 50 countries.
standard for PGMs, the use of satellite and the ‘Roll Control Guided Mortar’.
3 See Calloway (2011), Dutoit and Zahnd
guidance, sometimes combined with Publication date: April 2015
(1997), Grau (2005), and Lewin (2006).
other guidance methods, is becoming 4 Sometimes referred to as a ‘computer
increasingly commonplace (Weber, control group’ (CCG) or a ‘guidance,
2014). Other forms of guidance are navigation, and control unit’ (GNCU). Credits
used by some guided mortar systems,
Author: N. R. Jenzen-Jones
including millimetre-wave radar and
infrared imaging. References Contributors: Michael Horn, John Ismay,
Graeme Rice, Michael Smallwood, and
While most modern guided mortar Berman, Eric G., Pierre Gobinet, and Jonah
Leff. 2011. ‘Mortars.’ Research Note No. 2. Michael E. Weber
projectiles are of the high-explosive
Geneva: Small Arms Survey. Copy-editing: Alex Potter
or high-explosive fragmentation type,
Calloway, Audra. 2011. ‘Picatinny Fields First ([Link]@[Link])
optimized for use against personnel, Precision-guided Mortars to Troops in
light armoured vehicles, and struc- Proofreading: Donald Strachan
Afghanistan.’ US Army Press Release.
tures, early guided mortar projectiles 29 March. <[Link] Design and layout: Richard Jones
tended to be of the high-explosive anti- 53988/> (rick@[Link])
tank type. Examples include the 81 mm Dutoit, Jean-Claude and Maurice Zahnd. 1997.
‘Intelligente Munition für die 12-cm-
British Aerospace Defence Merlin—one
of the earliest guided mortar projectiles
Festungsminenwerfer.’ Allgemeine Contact details
Schweizerische Militärzeitschrift, No. 11.
developed—and the 120 mm Bofors Small Arms Survey
Grau, Lester W. 2005. ‘The High-precision Tulip:
Defence AB STRIX (Lewin, 2006). Both Development and Combat Employment Maison de la Paix
are true ‘fire-and-forget’ munitions. of the Soviet Laser-guided Mortar Round.’ Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2E
Journal of Slavic Military Studies, Vol. 18, CP 136 – 1211 Geneva
Most guided mortar projectiles
No. 4. Switzerland
have been developed in the 81 mm
Habash, Yousef. 2012. ‘Roll Control Guided
and 120 mm NATO calibres, and their Mortar (RCGM).’ Presentation at NDIA t +41 22 908 5777
82 mm and 120 mm Eastern Bloc equiv- Joint Armaments Conference. Seattle, f +41 22 732 2738
alents; however, there have been some 14–17 May. e info@[Link]
exceptions. The Soviet Union, for exam- Lewin, Joakim. 2006. ‘STRIX.’ PowerPoint
ple, developed the 240 mm Smelchak presentation.
Ryan, J. W. 1982. Guns, Mortars & Rockets.
(‘Daredevil’) and Smelchak-M projec-
Brassey’s Battlefield Weapons Systems &
tiles for the 2S4 Tyulpan self-propelled Technology Series, Vol. 2. Oxford: Brassey’s.
heavy mortar (Grau, 2005). Weber, Michael E. 2014. Guided Mortar Systems.
Guided mortar systems are in lim- Unpublished Armament Research Services
ited service with several states, includ- (ARES) confidential background paper.
ing the Russian Federation, Sweden, For more information on light weapons,
Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and please visit <[Link]
the United States. Such systems have [Link]/?[Link]>

2 Small Arms Survey Research Notes • Number 51 • April 2015