US Soldiers Demonstrate Patria NEMO 120mm Mortar on New AMPV Armored Vehicle.

The cooperation between the U.S. Army and Finnish Company Patria Corporation reached a significant milestone this week at the Maneuver Warfighter Conference in Fort Moore, Georgia. On September 10, 2024, soldiers successfully demonstrated various fire missions using U.S.-manufactured mortar ammunition with the Patria NEMO 120 mm Turreted Mortar System. This advanced system was integrated into an American-made Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) and utilized the Fire Direction System (FCD), marking a key achievement in the collaborative efforts.
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U.S. soldiers conducted a live firing demonstration of the Patria NEMO 120mm mortar system mounted on AMPV new tracked armored vehicle of the U.S. army.  (Picture source: Patria)

The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is a tracked military vehicle developed for the U.S. Army to replace the aging M113 series. Designed for versatility, the AMPV serves multiple roles on the battlefield, offering enhanced protection, mobility, and modularity. It is built on a tracked chassis similar to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, providing strong performance in various terrains and operational conditions.

BAE Systems manufactures the AMPV, which is designed to fulfill different mission types, including troop transport, logistical support, command operations, and medical services. Its configurations include a general-purpose transport variant, a mission command variant for mobile command centers, medical evacuation and treatment vehicles, and a mortar carrier capable of delivering indirect fire support.

The vehicle’s key strengths include improved armor protection against small arms, artillery fragments, and IEDs, ensuring better safety for soldiers. Its high mobility allows it to operate effectively alongside other armored units like the M1 Abrams and the M2 Bradley, making it a vital asset in modern warfare. The AMPV’s modular design, which enables it to adapt to different battlefield requirements, provides crucial flexibility and a sense of preparedness in various combat and support roles.

The U.S. Army is striving to enhance the capabilities of its Armored and Stryker Brigade Combat Teams by equipping them with rapid and precise indirect and direct fire solutions. These efforts aim to ensure that operating crews are well protected, while reducing their physical burdens and minimizing the effects of impulse noise and blast overpressure, thereby providing a sense of security to the soldiers.

Since 2020, Patria has conducted a turreted mortar feasibility study, including Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) with the U.S. Army. This study focuses on Patria NEMO, a world-leading turreted mortar system renowned for its versatility and effectiveness in various combat scenarios.

Janne Räkköläinen, Senior Vice President for Market Area World at Patria, expressed enthusiasm over the progress made so far. "We are extremely pleased to witness the results of our successful cooperation with the U.S. Army and our industry partners. Given the global interest in Patria NEMO’s unique capabilities, we are excited to continue discussions with the U.S. regarding the next steps. Our goal is to eventually bring Patria NEMO to U.S. warfighters, significantly increasing their survivability, lethality, and maneuverability," said Räkköläinen.

The Patria NEMO 120 mm mortar system is a remote-controlled, turreted weapon that can conduct both direct and indirect fire missions, including while on the move. One of its key features is the Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) capability, allowing up to six rounds to hit a target simultaneously. In addition to its high level of protection, the NEMO system is designed to be light, compact, and easily adaptable to various platforms such as tracked vehicles, wheeled armored vehicles, and naval vessels.