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The Dutch army and marines are receiving new 81 mm mortars. A corresponding procurement contract between the Dutch defense procurement agency DMO and Hirtenberger Defense Europe GmbH has now been signed.

The Dutch Armed Forces currently use British-made 81mm mortars in the infantry formations of the Army's 11th Airmobile, 43rd Mechanized and 13th Light Brigades and the Corps Mariniers as an indirect fire support weapon at company level. The new mortars are intended to replace the aging systems and bring not only range but also precision advantages.

The ten-year framework agreement that has now been concluded stipulates that the Austrian company is to deliver a total of 122 bipod mortars with a corresponding 81 mm ammunition contingent as well as the necessary logistical support to the Dutch armed forces in a first batch. Qualification measures for weapons systems and ammunition are to be carried out in advance, which will apparently begin shortly and, according to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, will last around two years. If necessary, the contract can be extended for another ten years.

The weapon system is the Hirtenberger bipod mortar M8 - 1365 with a blast deflector in 81 mm caliber and a system weight of around 40 kilograms. The 1.365 meter long tube allows firing ranges of up to 6.7 kilometers (with the Hirtenberger HE Mk4 ammunition).

According to the company, the types of ammunition selected were the Hirtenberger explosive cartridge, the luminous cartridge (IR), the luminous cartridge (visible) and the smoke cartridge (red phosphorus).

Waldemar Geiger