skip to main content

TADTE 2019: Taiwan advances Mobile Mortar System development

The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense’s (MND’s) Materiel Production Center (MPC) took the opportunity at the 2019 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE), which is being held in Taipei from 15 to 17 August, to unveil an updated version of the 81/120 mm Mobile Mortar System (MMS).

The MMS is a self-contained, electro-mechanical turntable mount that can be armed with an 81 mm or 120 mm smoothbore mortar. The system, which is being developed by the MPC’s 202nd Arsenal to meet a potential self-propelled mortar system requirement from the Republic of China Army (RoCA), features a specially designed hydraulic buffer assembly capable of attenuating recoil loads by up to a claimed reduction of 70%. This arrangement enables it to be integrated to a range of wheeled or tracked combat vehicles without requiring the suspension to be strengthened.

The Taiwanese MND Materiel Production Center's 202nd Arsenal has incorporated a range of enhancements to its 81/120 mm Mobile Mortar System. It is expected to enter initial operational training and evaluation imminently. (IHS Markit/Kelvin Wong)

The Taiwanese MND Materiel Production Center's 202nd Arsenal has incorporated a range of enhancements to its 81/120 mm Mobile Mortar System. It is expected to enter initial operational training and evaluation imminently. (IHS Markit/Kelvin Wong)

Although platform-agnostic, the updated MMS has been integrated to the prototype 8×8 M2 Mortar Carrier by the Armament Bureau’s 209th Arsenal. The vehicle, which has been configured to carry up to 60 mortar bombs and equipped with a multirotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for battlefield targeting, is also making its debut appearance at the event.

Lieutenant Colonel Lin Wei, director of the 202nd Arsenal, told Jane’s

The 81 mm Mobile Mortar System seen integrated to the prototype 8×8 M2 Mortar Carrier, which is under development by the MND Materiel Production Center’s 209th Arsenal. Its UAV-based forward-targeting system can be seen on its portside roof hatch. (IHS Markit/Kelvin Wong)

Looking to read the full article?

Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...