Rheinmetall Expal will supply Spanish army with 104 000 artillery munitions.

The Department of Economic Affairs of the Spanish Army's Logistic Support Command has awarded Rheinmetall Expal Munitions a contract to supply 104,000 mortar munitions of 60 mm, 81 mm, and 120 mm, valued at more than 58 million euros for the period 2024-2025.
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EIMOS Expal Integrated Mortar System for wheeled vehicles. (Picture source: Expal)

The contract is divided into three lots: €1,662,509.75 for 3,500 60 mm mortar munitions divided into 2,000 high-explosive, 1,000 smoke, and 500 illuminating; €15,129,198.7 for 39,000 81 mm munitions comprising 35,000 high-explosive, 3,000 smoke, and 1,000 illuminating; and €41,344,314.55 for 61,500 120 mm munitions divided into 45,500 high-explosive, 8,000 smoke, and 8,000 illuminating. The contract is scheduled to end on December 31, 2025.

One of the Spanish systems that will use these artillery munitions is the recently purchased Eimos. The Eimos, designed by Expal, represents a mobile and versatile weapon platform, mainly focused on the use of a mortar. This weapon system is distinctive for its ability to accommodate a mortar of 60 mm or 81 mm caliber, thus offering operational flexibility depending on mission requirements. The interchangeability of the mortar is remarkable, being achievable in less than three minutes. Additionally, the mortar can be deployed on the ground, further increasing the unit's versatility on the battlefield.

The firing accuracy of the Eimos is enhanced by an inertial navigation system (INS), which allows for reducing the margin of error to less than two degrees in both elevation and deflection. This accuracy is essential to increase strike efficiency and minimize the risk of collateral damage. The effective range of the mortar varies according to the caliber used: up to 6,900 meters for the 81 mm mortar and up to 4,900 meters for the 60 mm one.

The Eimos is designed to be operated by a small team of two soldiers, highlighting the ease of use and responsiveness of the system in various operational contexts. Its weight, around 500 kg depending on the configuration, and its base diameter of 780 mm make it relatively easy to transport and deploy.

In terms of technical design, the Eimos incorporates electric motors and a hydraulic recoil system, the latter being able to absorb more than 90% of the forces transmitted by the mortar to the vehicle. This feature significantly reduces wear and tear on the equipment and improves the crew's comfort during firing. The maximum height of the system varies between 1,750 mm and 2,050 mm, depending on the configuration, highlighting its compactness and ability to be deployed in various environments.

At the end of 2023, the Spanish Army signed a contract with Rheinmetall Expal Systems for several Eimos mounted mortars at 8.2 million euros, excluding taxes (10 million including VAT). Although the contract does not specify the number of units, given the price point of the Eimos system of just over a million euros each without the vehicle, the order would include eight mounted mortars. This acquisition is part of the Spanish Army's Project Force 35 aiming to modernize the equipment of cavalry units over the coming years. The Eimos system is already in service with the Marine Infantry.

In total, the contract covers 94,200 units of 155 mm HER ERO2A1 BT TNT projectiles and an additional 2,600 training shells. It also includes 120,000 EC-120 fuses, 12,800 EC-103, 4,000 MTM 565, 100 EFS-100 electronic fuse programmers, and 12,000 base bleed units.