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The conduct of battles has always been determined by the factors of forces, space and time. The challenge of future battles in the context of national and alliance defense are similarly challenging for many modern armed forces and are presented as follows:

In principle, a fight against an opponent of at least equal value is to be assumed. Furthermore, based on experience from the Ukraine conflict, it must be assumed that wars or conflicts can arise without long warning times.

The reality for the troop commander will thus be as follows:

  • Overstretched spaces must be held or taken with the limited strength available.
  • Operations are conducted on a “glass battlefield”. Receiving the information, reliable transmission and the processing of all incoming data is therefore of crucial importance.
  • Measures of electronic warfare require redundant combat management, which can be carried out using modern command systems, using Battle Management Systems (BMS), but also analogously in the event of disruptions in the cyber and information space.

In view of the austerity measures threatened by many armed forces due to Corona, modernization projects and maintaining the operational readiness of existing systems will only succeed if, in addition to the effectiveness of the new weapon systems to be procured, the efficiency of the systems also plays a decisive role.

Requirements for future mortar systems

The infantry's high-angle fire support plays an important role in such scenarios, since it can be deployed quickly with comparatively little force and a small logistical footprint and can cover large areas with fire that is readily available. However, in order to be able to make this decisive contribution to combat operations, future mortar systems must meet several criteria at the same time. The performance, especially in terms of survivability, speed of firefighting and controllability by mapping the weapon systems in the digital space of the BMS, must be significantly improved compared to the current situation in many armed forces - including the Bundeswehr systems used from the Cold War era.

In addition, it is certainly also of interest to increase the effectiveness of the weapon systems - in terms of accuracy, range and penetration - and to simplify the training of the system operators.

Since the requirements described already exist today due to ongoing operations, there is not much time left for the development of new systems with the inherent risks for such systems, which are sometimes difficult to control, throughout the entire development phase until they are ready for use.

(Photo: Hirtenberger)

Systems ready for use to increase the combat effectiveness of mortars

Hirtenberger Defense Systems (HDS) already offers marketable, cost-efficient and superior systems for increasing the combat effectiveness of mortar systems in use in all common NATO calibers.

GRid Aiming Mode - GRAM

As early as 2017, Hirtenberger brought the GRAM electronic leveling device onto the market, which has now been expanded to include several functions. The globally unique device is add-on capable and can be used to increase the combat effectiveness of all common 60 mm mortars, including the commando mortar variant. With a weight of only 900 g, the GRAM combines several position sensors for determining the position of the pipe in space and a wireless interface for communication with the computing unit for fire control. Attached to the pipe by means of a clamp, the integrated position sensors enable the lateral and vertical inclination of the pipe to be determined much more precisely than can be achieved using classic levels.

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(Photo: Hirtenberger)

The GRAM allows 60 mm mortars to be aimed and fired fully digitally. This enables fire commands to be executed much more quickly, as these can now be transmitted seamlessly from the observer to the mortar using radio data transmission. In addition, transmission errors occurring in voice radio are excluded. However, the potential of the GRAM is not yet exhausted. Since the use of the weapon no longer depends on the flight of the aiming eye, the mortar and the target, other methods of using the system are also conceivable. The use of the commando mortar in conjunction with the GRAM is no longer limited to direct aiming. With the electronic aiming device, a commando mortar also fires indirectly behind cover and as precisely as a 60 mm bipod mortar.

The digitization of mortar systems is achieved through the possibility of connecting to existing fire control, command and weapon deployment systems via standardized interfaces. This means that the mortar can be integrated not only in BMS but also in simulation environments or process and handling trainers based on VBS (Virtual Battle Space). This means that in shooting training you are no longer solely dependent on the live shot.

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(Photo: Hirtenberger)

Since more and more armed forces are equipping soldiers with tactical smartphones based on Android, Hirtenberger has developed a GRAM app that expands the Android device into a complete fire control computer and makes the overall system even more cost-efficient, as there is no need to purchase additional IT hardware. Communication with the GRAM takes place via Bluetooth connection, the target data can also be transferred directly from the target locating device to the app via Bluetooth at close range. Without an existing connection, these can also be entered manually.

Mortar Digital Aiming Solution—MDAS

The MDAS is a digital aiming device for 81 and 120mm mortars. The setting up and directing (targeting) of bipod mortars can be carried out using this system independently of target circles or periscopes and also without connections to the Global Navigation Satellite Systems.

The Mortar Digital Aiming Solution weighs less than seven kilograms and consists of two hardware components. These consist of a navigation system-independent, gyroscope-based sensor package including a battery unit and a display, which is attached to the mortar instead of a periscope and shows the orientation of the weapon system.

MDAS is ready for series production and is currently being tested in a Central European country. The concept behind MDAS offers several advantages:

  • It works independently of the weapon system and can therefore increase the combat effectiveness of mortar systems in use as a retrofit and integrate them into the battle management systems used by the armed forces. This simplifies both the management and the use of the systems.
  • Furthermore, the digitization enables a significantly faster transmission of the target data than by radio. Depending on the stability of the data connection, transmission errors (wrong understanding) are also eliminated. This allows for faster impact on target.

MDAS relieves the squad. This applies to both the quality and quantity of the tasks. The weapon systems can be set up with less effort and the ammunition shooter setting the guide rods does not have to expose himself in advance. Aiming with a digital display is easier to learn and also easier to carry out in stressful situations (battle) than is the case with aiming rods/collimator and periscope. As a result, training is easier and faster, and the squad size required for firing can be lower. The freed-up personnel, who are still required to transport the weapon system for combat purposes, can thus be used for additional security tasks.

The possibility of using the MDAS independently of the navigation system also allows it to be used in a scenario determined by electronic combat.

MDAS allows the mortar, where necessary and appropriate, to continue to be used in the tried and tested manner with periscope and straightening rods.

Available, ready for use and cost-effective

As a long-standing partner of the German Armed Forces, Hirtenberger Defense Systems has repeatedly demonstrated that it is able to implement projects in a pragmatic manner, even at short notice and to the satisfaction of the customer.

Hirtenberger has therefore set itself the goal of shortening the sensor-to-shooter cycle related to the mortar by digitizing the dismounted mortar systems and thus preparing them for use on the future battlefield. In this case, "digitization" means the integration of the weapon system into a battle management system and the mapping of the mortar in digital space, which is currently only possible for vehicle-based systems.