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FMS 2024: Mörser 16 mortar system production under way for Switzerland

By Nicholas Fiorenza |

Switzerland is procuring 48 Mörser 16 AMVs. (RUAG Defence)

Production of Mörser 16 armoured mortar vehicles (AMVs) is under way for Switzerland following the completion of testing of the systems in 2024, Janes learnt on the first day of Defence iQ's Future Mortar Systems (FMS) 2024 conference being held in London on 29–30 October.

In 2025 the Swiss Army plans to determine what subsystems the Mörser 16 will be equipped with and to complete the development and acquisition of simulators to train on the system, with the aim of training the first fire units in 2026–27.

Switzerland is procuring 48 Mörser 16 AMVs from General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag (GDELS-Mowag) with Cobra 120 mm turntable-mounted smoothbore mortars from RUAG, and the first system is due to join the artillery school in 2026.

The 30 tonne Mörser 16 has a speed of 90 km/h, a range of 600 km, and a crew of four: commander, driver, and two loaders. Its global navigation satellite system-supported navigation system, Integrated Artillery Command and Fire Control System, and ballistic onboard computer allows it to be ready to fire in less than a minute, according to the Swiss Army. The AMV's ammunition will include guided munitions. It features NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4 protection and has a 12.7 mm secondary armament.

For more information, please seeSwitzerland orders more 120 mm mortar systems .

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