TDA 120 mm 120R 2M self-propelled mortar system (France), Self-propelled mortar systems

Development
The 120 mm 120R 2M recoiling rifled mortar system was developed as a private venture for the export market by TDA (previously Thomson Brandt Armements) and can be fitted to a wide range of vehicles, tracked and wheeled, in the 10 to 15 tonnes class.The 120 mm 120R 2M recoiling rifled mortar was developed from 1992 and was first revealed in 1993 with the first complete prototype being shown in 1994.The system has been demonstrated in France and Saudi Arabia installed in the MOWAG Piranha (8 × 8) APC and has also been installed in a Turkish FNSS Savunma Sistemleri AS Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) for trials in Turkey.One TDA 120 mm 120R 2M installed in a VAB series APC has been ordered by the French Army and this was delivered in December 2003 for extensive trials.French Army units equipped with the VAB currently use the towed TDA 120 mm rifled mortar which takes time to come into and be taken out of action.Italy has recently selected the towed version of the TDA 120 mm rifled mortar and the 120 mm 120R 2M has been integrated into a Dardo IFV chassis of the Italian Army. It is expected that this mortar will also be integrated into the Iveco Defence Vehicles/Oto Melara Freccia (8 × 8) infantry fighting vehicle which has recently entered service with the Italian Army. In early 2008 TDA Armements SAS was awarded a contract from Oman for an undisclosed quantity of 120 mm 2R2M

Description
The 120 mm mortar and its associated hydraulic recoiling system is mounted on a 1 m circular turntable with ball-bearing enabling it to be quickly traversed under power through 220°. Elevation and traverse is controlled using a joystick with elevation from +42° to +85°.When travelling, the 120 mm mortar barrel is lowered into the horizontal position and the two roof hatches are closed making the vehicle difficult to distinguish as a mortar carrier.The complete 120 mm mortar system weighs around 1,500 kg and comprises the rifled mortar barrel, two hydraulic recoil brakes and a bearing-mounted base plate. Recoil force on the platform is about 35 tonnes and maximum recoil travel is about 300 mm.The 122 mm 120R 2M mortar is ballistically identical to the well-known TDA 120 mm MO-120-RT rifled towed mortar which is used by more than 20 countries.Maximum range using rocket-assisted 120 mm ammunition is 13 km and maximum rate of fire is 6 to 10 rds/min for three minutes and sustained rate of fire is 2 to 3 rds/min. When fitted with a semi-automatic loading system a rate of fire of 18 rds/min can be achieved.The system fires the same family of 120 mm mortar bombs as the standard 120 mm towed mortar including high-explosive (with impact/delay fuze or with proximity fuze), smoke (white phosphorus), anti-armour personnel carrier (with pre-fragmented body), illumination, cargo (with 20 grenades) and practice (black powder). It will also fire 120 mm smart mortar projectiles such as the Swedish Strix precision mortar

The complete article appears in the following publication:
Publication Title	Jane's Armour and Artillery
Publication date	Feb 09, 2012
Section	Self-propelled mortar systems
Publication synopsis	Jane's Armour and Artillery provides you with information essential for recognition, procurement and threat assessment relating to the world's armour and artillery systems that are currently in use or under development. Each entry includes accurate and reliable details of development, photographs to aid identification, descriptions, variants, specifications, status and manufacturer.
Key contents include	Main battle, medium and light tanks Reconnaissance vehicles Armoured personnel carriers Infantry fighting vehicles Armoured command vehicles Towed and self-propelled guns and howitzers Multiple rocket launchers Video Clips
Depth of coverage	Analysis Armour And Artillery In Service Armoured Command Vehicles Armoured Fighting Vehicle Families Armoured Personnel Carriers (Tracked) Armoured Personnel Carriers (Wheeled) Contractors Light Tanks (Under 25,000 Kg) MBTs And Medium Tanks Multiple Rocket Launchers Reconnaissance Vehicles Self-Propelled Guns And Howitzers (Tracked) Self-Propelled Guns And Howitzers (Wheeled) Self-Propelled Mortar Systems Tank Destroyers Towed Anti-Tank Guns, Guns And Howitzers

You may purchase a full subscription to this service through the Jane’s Online Catalogue.

About Jane’s
With more than 100 years of experience, Jane’s, an IHS company, holds an unrivalled reputation for the reliability, accuracy and impartiality of our information and advice, trusted and relied upon by business, government and military decision-makers worldwide.

In the specialist fields of defence, security, public safety, transport and law enforcement, Jane’s intelligence is a ‘must have’ resource for our clients, who can trust our intelligence over that from any other open source.

© 2009 Jane's Information Group. All rights reserved | Terms of use | Jane's Privacy Policy