Page 42 - Military Technology 12/2018

40 · MT 12/2018

Hirtenberger Defence Systems e
announced a collaboration with
Singapore Technology Land Systems
centred on the Asian company’s next
generation Super Rapid Advanced
Mortar System (SRAMS).
(All photos via author)

Georg Mader
Austro-Asian
Alternative

Artillery – Hirtenberger Defence Systems in the Spotlight

An innovative solution to the Prior to inking the agree-
mobile fire support issue was ment with HDS, ST Land
presented by Hirtenberger Systems has already had
Defence Systems (HDS), some success with SRAMS.
marrying Austrian leadership It is in service with the
and ammunition with innovation. Singaporean Armed Forces
on the BRONCO all terrain
tracked carrier and on the
In smaller and/or chronically un- UAE’s RG31 Mk.6E mine
derfunded armies, heavy mortars protected vehicles, known
(120mm and above) have become locally as AGRAB MK2. The
an acceptable alternative to clas- UAE acquired 46 AGRABs
sic artillery. A mature 155mm gun in a $106 million 2007 con-
or howitzer capability today means tract and the vehicle has
a specialised vehicle in most cas- been seen in action in the
es, leading to an extended acqui- conflict in Yemen. The 10t
sition process and a price tag with vehicle carries 46 rounds in
too many zeros attached. On the two carousels and has two
other hand, recent combat expe- additional racks for a further
rience in Ukraine and elsewhere is 12 rounds: however, the
demonstrating the enormous tacti- A new HE CONFRAG Mk.3 What was very apparent was the efficacy UAE’s ammunition comes
cal advantage of a swift change in bomb offers 60% improved of the semi-automatic loading system, from International Golden
firing position – something that re- lethality. which manoeuvres the ammunition along Group currently, rather than
mains a challenge for towed heavy the 2.1m barrel and double-sided muzzle HDS.
mortars. blast diffuser rapidly and efficiently. The HDS ARC FIRE fully
HDS, established in 1860 and electronic fire control sys-
recently styling itself ‘The Mortar tem, incorporating compo-
Company,’ announced a collaboration with Singapore Technology Land nents from Rockwell Collins, enables completely autonomous operations
Systems centred on the Asian company’s next generation Super Rapid for the mortar and opens up a range of applications. It takes data from the
Advanced Mortar System (SRAMS). With the HDS UK office leading the forward observer’s handheld, for example, and marks targets out to a dis-
charge, the European market becomes much more available to a mid- tance of 9,000m while computing relevant ballistic data and coordinating
sized company from Asia, whilst the Austrian connection also brings with data from laser target acquisition, GPS navigation and a digital map.
it a fire control system and a range of NATO-standard ammunition already Since Eurosatory, HDS has coordinated live fire tests and demonstra-
approved in Europe. In addition to smoke, illuminating and IR rounds, a tions for SRAMS, which would otherwise have been challenging for ST
new HE (High Explosive) CONFRAG Mk.3 bomb – also available in 60 and Land Systems. At the end of September, tests were conducted at the
81mm calibres – offers 60% improved lethality. Austrian Army’s firing range in Felixdorf, just a few kilometres from HDS
Fundamentally the project revolves around the fact that STK has engi- head office. Among observers were military, government and industri-
neered a sophisticated recoil damping mechanism for SRAMS – reducing al representatives from nations such as Estonia, Germany, Latvia and
total recoil force to less than 26t – making it possible for the weapon to be Slovenia…and MT.
fired from a wide variety of wheeled or tracked vehicles currently available Rigid (though understandable) safety requirements imposed by the
or even in current inventory. HDS Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Austrian military meant that only training ammunition, with a relative-
Carsten Barth, told MT the system can be installed retrospectively on a ly small target-marking charge, could be used, foiling expectations of a
variety of 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 platforms, as well as tracked multi-purpose demonstration of shattering firepower. However, what was very apparent
vehicles and ATVs such as BAE Systems’ BvS10. In contrast to more was the efficacy of the semi-automatic loading system, which manoeuvres
conventional self-propelled artillery, operators would save the acquisition, the ammunition along the 2.1m barrel and double-sided muzzle blast dif-
life-cycle and logistics costs associated with procuring a dedicated vehi- fuser rapidly and efficiently. The blast diffuser allows the three man crew
cle – and even the potential disadvantage of needing a significant logistics to operate in safe conditions during extended fire missions. The demon-
train for the heavier, larger 120mm ammunition is partially avoided. “With stration showed how a fast firing rate of up to 10 rounds per second can
CONFRAG you need less ammunition and this will make a significant dif­ be achieved.
ference in the 120mm mortar market,” explained Mr Barth. He sees an
increase in customer demand, despite the fact that the market for mobile Georg Mader is a regular correspondent for MT, who reported from various manu­
and vehicle-mounted mortar systems is fiercely competitive, as the recent facturers, air­arms and ­exercises worldwide, as well as from frontlines in the
Australian success for BOXER proves. Balkans, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan. Edited by Tim Mahon.