Home reports armed forces Hirtenberger's ELAD electronic aiming device receives approval for series production in Switzerland

Hirtenberger's ELAD electronic aiming device receives approval for series production in Switzerland

Waldemar Geiger

May 28, 2021

The Swiss armed forces are equipped with a modern radio control system for mortars. After successful functional tests, which were carried out at the beginning of March, the electronic aiming device ELAD (ELectronic Aiming Device) is classified as functional and ready for use, as the manufacturer Hirtenberger Defense has now announced. During the tests, the ELAD was successfully tested for its functionality, accuracy and handling. According to the Austrian mortar manufacturer, the system is now ready for series production and delivery to the Swiss army

As part of the 2019 armaments program, the Swiss Army (VBS) has already ordered a total of 300 81mm mortars from EXPAL including ammunition (from Saab Bofors Dynamics Switzerland). These systems are also to be delivered to the troops between 2021 and 2023. These will obviously be equipped with the ELAD.

The VBS will thus be the first armed forces in the world to introduce such a system for an 81mm mortar. The setting up and directing (aiming) of bipod mortars can be carried out with this system independently of directional circles or periscopes and also without connections to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).

"We are very pleased that the ELAD system has proven its suitability under real shooting conditions," said Carsten Barth, Managing Director of Hirtenberger Defense Europe, "we can now go into series production to ensure that the ELAD system is so fast can be delivered to armasuisse as possible. We are very proud to support the Swiss Army in digitizing their mortar systems.”

ELAD/MDAS

The ELAD, which Hirtenberger markets internationally under the name Mortar Digital Aiming Solution (MDAS), is a digital aiming device for 81mm mortars, which was publicly presented for the first time in March 2020 as part of the Mortar Systems Conference (in Bristol, UK, from 10th to 15th March 2020). to March 11, 2020) was presented.

Die Mortar Digital Aiming Solution wiegt weniger als sieben Kilogramm und besteht aus zwei Hardwarekomponenten, die je nach Ausprägung entweder mittels Kabelverbindung oder kabellos kommunizieren und in einer Transportbox geschützt transportiert werden können. Die zwei Systemkomponenten sind:

A navigation system-independent, gyroscope-based sensor package including a battery unit (recognizable in the picture as a black box on the mortar tube), which can be attached to any 81 mortar system in use with a tube clamp. The system is shock resistant, so it does not have to be removed from the barrel even when firing at maximum charge or when changing position. The battery charge is sufficient to ensure continuous operation of the MDAS for more than six hours.

A display is attached to the mortar in place of a periscope and shows the orientation of the weapon system.

With these components, MDAS enables digital and independent straightening. In addition, the system can be integrated into a fire control system. A fire control computer (laptop or smart device) with installed fire control software is then required for this use. Computer and software can be freely selected by the user, regardless of the manufacturer.

All the data required for fire control (target reports, position data, etc.) can either be taken over automatically from a navigation system or entered manually into the MDAS via the computer. In this network, MDAS enables the integration of the mortar weapon in digital space.

user benefits

The MDAS 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. Setting up the weapon systems can be done with less effort: the ammunition shooter setting the aligning rods does not have to expose himself in advance. Aiming with a digital display is easier to learn and easier to perform even in stressful situations (combat) than is possible when using aiming rods/collimator and a periscope. As a result, training is easier and faster. In addition, the troop strength required for firing can be reduced. 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 method with periscope and straightening rods.

Waldemar Geiger

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