236 Mortar Systems

INVESTMENT COMPONENT Modernization MISSION The M95/M96 Mortar Fire Control PROGRAM STATUS To enhance mission effectiveness of the System–Mounted (MFCS–M), used • 1QFY09–1QFY10: MFCS fielded to Recapitalization maneuver unit commander by providing on the M1064A3 and M1129, and two heavy Brigade Combat Teams the M150/M151 Mortar Fire Control (BCTs) and nine HBCTs reset Maintenance organic indirect fire support. System–Dismounted (MFCS–D), used • 1QFY09–1QFY10: LHMBC fielded DESCRIPTION with the M120, combine a fire control to seven Infantry BCTs, four Special The Army uses three variants of computer with an inertial navigation Forces groups, and 16 IBCTs reset 120mm mortar systems. All are and pointing system, allowing crews • 1QFY09–1QFY10: Mortar weapons smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded weapons in to fire in under a minute, greatly fielded to numerous IBCT, HBCT, mounted or dismounted configurations. improving mortar lethality. SBCT and Special Forces groups The M120 120mm Towed Mortar • 3QFY09: Full materiel release System mounts on the M1101 trailer The M32 Lightweight Handheld Mortar MCFS-D and is emplaced and displaced using Ballistic Computer (LHMBC) has a the M326 “quick stow” system. The tactical modem and embedded global PROJECTED ACTIVITIES mounted variants are the M121 120mm positioning system, allowing mortar • 4QFY09: Full materiel release of mortar, used on the M1064A3 Mortar crews to send and receive digital call- M326 “quick stow” system Carrier (M113 variant), and the for-fire messages, calculate ballistic • 1QFY09–1QFY10: Continue 120mm Recoiling Mortar System, used solutions, and navigate. production and fielding of 60mm, on the M1129 Stryker Mortar Carrier. 81mm, and 120mm mortar systems SYSTEM INTERDEPENDENCIES • 2QFY09–1QFY10: Production Lightweight variants of the M252 M95/M96 MFCS–M and M150/M151 and initial fielding of M150/M151 81mm Mortar System and M224 60mm MFCS–D: Army Field Artillery Tactical MFCS–D Mortar System have been qualified Data System • 2QFY09–4QFY11: Complete initial and are in production. Both systems fielding of MFCS–M provide high-rate-of-fire capability and • 1QFY10: Initiate fielding of M326 are man-portable. On the M224 mortar, • 2QFY12: Complete production and cartridges can be drop-fired using fielding of M32 LHMBC the standard M7 baseplate or hand- held and trigger-fired using a smaller assault M8 baseplate.

ACQUISITION PHASE Technology Development Engineering & Manufacturing Development Production & Deployment Operations & Support

UNITED STATES ARMY 237

Mortar Systems

FOREIGN MILITARY SALES Afghanistan, Australia

CONTRACTORS 60mm and 81mm Mortar Bipod Production: MaTech (Salisbury, MD) 60mm and 81mm Baseplate Production: AMT (Fairfield, NJ) MFCS-D and MFCS-M production, fielding, and installation: Elbit Systems of America (Ft. Worth, TX) M32 LHMBC (R-PDA): General Dynamics C4 Systems (Taunton, MA) 120mm, 81mm, and 60mm cannons, 120mm baseplates: Watervliet Arsenal (Watervliet, NY)

Range Rate of Fire Mortar (meters) Weight (pounds) (rounds per minute) Crew Ammunition 7240 319 16 for the 4 M121 High explosive (HE) (M934A1), white phosphorus M120/ first minute carrier-mounted smoke (M929), illumination (visible light, M930 and M121 4 sustained 5 M120 towed infrared [IR], M983), and full-range practice (FRP) 120mm (M931) M252 5935 90 30 first two minutes 3 HE (M821A2), red phosphorus smoke (M819), 81mm 15 sustained illumination (visible light, M853A1 and IR, M816), and FRP (M879) M224 3489 46.5 30 first four minutes 3 HE (M720A1), WP smoke (M722A1), illumination 60mm (conventional), 20 sustained (visible light, M721 and IR, M767), and FRP (M769) 18.0 (handheld) WEAPON SYSTEMS 2010