M-81 expected to be main element of future portfolio
At MSPO 2017, Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów (ZMT) presented the M-81 (81mm) mortar, which was developed in 1990 by OBRSM. Two prototypes were made in 1998, though the Polish Armed Forces did not want to fund additional developmental works and thus the programme was cancelled by OBRSM which was later acquired by ZMT, much larger than OBRSM.
One of the main pillars of ZMT’s strategy is to decrease its dependence on orders from the Polish Ministry of National Defence – the company wants to increase its export volume. The M-81 mortar is expected to be one of the main elements of the company’s future portfolio.
The M-81 is an economic and versatile solution – it can fire various types of standard 81 mm grenades, including smoke and illumination grenades. It can fire up to 40 grenades in one salvo, and has a crew of three troops. The minimum range is 120 meters, while the maximum range is 6300 meters. It can fire up to 10 grenades per minute with target adjustments or up to 20 grenades per minute without any target adjustments. The total weight is 91 kg, while the weight of a mortar in a combat position is 61 kg.
Robert Czulda