South Korea to begin series production of locally developed 120 mm self-propelled mortar system

South Korea will begin series production of a locally developed 120 mm self-propelled mortar system that has been integrated into an M113-type tracked armoured personnel carrier (APC).

The country’s Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) announced in a 9 September statement that the Defense Project Promotion Committee has decided to award in the fourth quarter of 2020 a five-year KRW770 billion (USD648.5 million) contract for the mass production of the systems, the first units of which are expected to enter service with the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) from next year.

South Korea has decided to mass-produce a newly developed 120-mm self-propelled mortar system under a five-year KRW770 billion (USD648.5 million) contract set to be awarded later this year. (Hanwha Defense)

Developed by several South Korean companies, including Hanwha Defense and S&T Dynamics, for KRW41.3 billion, the integrated mortar system, which can rotate 360°, is stated to have a strike range greater than that of the ageing M30 107 mm rifled mortar it is expected to replace.

DAPA had previously revealed that the new weapon, development of which began in March 2014 and was completed in June 2019, is equipped with an automated fire-control and a semi-automatic loading system.

According to S&T Dynamics, the mortar, which weighs less than 1,400 kg, has a maximum rate of fire of 10 rounds per minute for 3 minutes, a sustained rate of fire of 3 rounds per minute, and a firing range of 8 km for high-explosive rounds and of 13 km for rocket-assisted projectiles. The reaction time for the first round is stated to be 30 seconds.

The self-propelled system appears to be based on a variant of South Korea’s K200A1 tracked APC.