Future system Indirect fire short range – NEMO turbo mortars on CAVS 6-6 to be procured still in 2024
Waldemar Geiger
19. September 2024
Picture: hard point / Waldemar Geiger
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With the project Future Indirect Fire System, the Bundeswehr intends to replace the Jäger troop's ageing 120 mm tank mortars. In addition, the grenadier associations equipped with the new mortar systems to be procured will also be equipped with the new mortar systems to be settled with the new mortar armor armor. According to well-informed districts, the Federal Ministry of Defence plans to submit a corresponding 25 million base for the procurement of the new 120-mortar systems to the competent committees in the Bundestag for approval in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Specifically, these will be modern NEMO type tower mortar systems on a CAVS 6’6 platform – both from the Finnish arms company Patria. This would be the new mortar system to be the first vehicle variant to be introduced to the Bundeswehr on the CAVS platform – which was selected as the successor for the Fuchs wheel armour. As part of the “New Generation Transport Tank” project, around 1,000 CAVS wheel armours are to be raised in different variants – as part of the international CAVS project (Common Armoured Vehicle System), which is managed by Finland, in order to replace the antey Fuchs fleet. A corresponding signing of the CAVS Research and Development Agreement by Germany took place in May 2024,
hard point reported.
NEMO
NEMO stands for NEw MOrtar and is a roughly 1.9 ton 120 mm teleston of the Finnish arms company Patria. The system was first introduced in 2006 and has been consistently developed ever since. At the beginning of 2021, Patria announced the qualification of the NEMO for the ability “Fire-on-the-move”, in German firing in the movement. This unique ability for mortar systems to date allows the troops to remain constantly in motion during the fight for fire and thus effectively escape the enemy's effectiveness of weapons.
The construction method as a tower mortar is considered to be particularly complex and is also associated with higher procurement and maintenance costs, but offers several advantages compared to classic “probion molders”. On the one hand, the crew is completely protected, both ballistically and against ABC threats. Another advantage is the ability to fire in direct direct alignment in a low angular group. An ability that can be used both defensively and offensively in battle.
According to the manufacturer, a single NEMO mortar is able to bring up to six cartridges at the same time. The procedure is called Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI). According to the manufacturer, this ability remains in the movement when firing.
The NEMO tower has a swivel range of 360 degrees and a weapon tilt of -3 to 85 degrees. The three-metre-long tube allows a slightly increased range of battles compared to classic 120 mm mortars.
The weapon system is designed as a rear loader with a semi-automatic charging mechanism. The ammunition is prepared by the crew and placed on a loading rail. The mechanism then automatically loads the weapon. Depending on the size, vehicles equipped with the NEMO tower can carry 50 to 60 cartridges 120 mm mortar ammunition. For the escalation from the NEMO, the mortar ammunition must be provided with a so-called stub case (in German tubular tub). This is a short sleeve developed by Patria, which acts as an interface between the handheld loader gun plant and ammunition. According to Patria, almost every 120 mm mortar ammunition on the market is suitable for the NEMO escalation once it has been equipped with the stub case. The ammunition is easy and can be done by the crew. After the weapon fires, the stub is ejected into a collection container mounted on the vehicle.
According to Patria, the weapon system is usually operated by a four-person crew, which consists of a driver, a commander – who also at the same time perceives the function of the judging gunner – a loading and ammunition gunner. A modern fire control system completes the weapon system.
CAVS 6 to 6
The CAVS 6'6 is derived from a three-axle wheel armor, which was originally produced by the Finnish company Sisu. This vehicle was also called Patria XA. According to Patria, the new Patria 6 shows an improved in-drive suspension compared to its predecessor, a more powerful engine with 294 kW and improvements to the electrical system. According to Patria, the German company ZF supplies the gearbox.
According to the manufacturer, the Patria 6'6 has a maximum weight of 24t and the protection corresponds to STANAG 4569 Level 2, whereby a higher level of protection should also be possible if required.
The Finnish arms company Patria has announced that the vast majority of vehicle production will be done by using local industrial capacities in the CAVS member countries.
To this end, Patria has already joined forces in mid-February 2024 with the two German companies DSL Defence Service Logistics GmbH (DSL), a subsidiary of the KNDS Group, and FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft mbH (FFG) to offer the Bundeswehr the development, production and maintenance of variants of Patria's 6th transport armor as part of the succession of Fuchs Transport Tank.
The allocation of work packages provides that Patria will act as the main contractor within the framework of the international CAVS programme if Germany decide to purchasing the vehicle. The Finnish Group will also take over the management of the design and development of the system. DSL and FFG – with the subsidiary of Jungethal Wehrtechnik (JWT) – are to provide local engineering, production and life cycle support from the Freisen, Flensburg and churches locations. “In addition to the more detailed preparation of the localization, the team will also involve other German companies in the programme,” said the press release of the three cooperation partners, which was sent out in mid-February. According to Jörg Kamper, Managing Director of the Jungethal Wehrtechnik and member of the management board of FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau GmbH, the lion's share of production will be done in Germany.
defence-industry.eu
