Thales South Africa has unveiled a groundbreaking solution to enhance the precision and efficiency of conventional mortar systems. The company’s newly developed Mortar Fire Control System (MFCS) and Automated Mortar Fire Control System (AMFCS) are set to redefine the landscape of indirect fire support.
The Mortar Fire Control System (MFCS)
At the core of these advancements is the MFCS, a modular system adaptable to mortars ranging from 60mm to 120mm. Designed as a cost-effective and lightweight upgrade, the MFCS significantly improves accuracy by introducing digital fire control to conventional platforms.
Key components of the MFCS include a rugged tablet computer equipped with GPS, data communication units, and specialized MFCS software tailored for both mortar fire controllers and command posts. To ensure precision, the system incorporates an optical heading and reference system to counteract drift over time.
The Automated Mortar Fire Control System (AMFCS)
For an even higher level of automation, Thales offers the AMFCS, also known as the Scorpion. This fully automated weapon system can be interchangeably mounted on various calibers, including 60mm, 81mm, 82mm mortars, and 107mm rockets. The system’s heart is the AS 4000, which controls the mortar’s elevation and azimuth through a 360-degree electric traverse mechanism.
To streamline operations without compromising reliability or weight, the AMFCS employs a manual loading system instead of an auto-loader. For rapid target acquisition and engagement in various weather conditions, the system can be integrated with the Thales Sophie binocular/thermal imager, complete with a laser rangefinder.
A crucial feature of the AMFCS is its recoil mitigation system, enabling integration into smaller and lighter vehicles. The mortar itself can be easily detached and transferred between platforms, ensuring flexibility in deployment.
Enhanced Capabilities and Operational Benefits
Thales highlights that the AMFCS drastically reduces reaction time, with mortars ready to engage targets within 20 seconds, a 95% improvement over conventional systems. This rapid deployment capability facilitates “shoot and scoot” tactics.
The system’s automation ensures high first-round hit probability and minimizes dispersion across the target area. Notably, the AMFCS can operate effectively in GPS-denied environments and is equipped to detect GPS spoofing.
Currently in service with the South African Special Forces, the AMFCS has garnered significant international interest, with Thales actively promoting the system to global markets.
Thales South Africa’s MFCS and AMFCS represent a substantial leap forward in mortar technology. By combining advanced digital fire control with automation, these systems offer military forces unparalleled accuracy, speed, and operational efficiency.