US Marines evaluate Scorpion Light mortar on MRZR Alpha 6x6 to strike and escape within minutes.

At Marine Corps Base Quantico, the U.S. Marine Corps organized a live-fire event during the Marine Gunners Symposium where Global Military Products and Polaris Government and Defense demonstrated the Scorpion Light mobile mortar system, also known as the Alakran.
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Operators of the Scorpion Light mortar system can pre-program up to 1,000 targets, accept data from forward observers, command centers, or unmanned aerial systems, and conduct automatic re-aiming in seconds. (Picture source: Polaris Government & Defense)

Mounted on the Polaris MRZR Alpha 6×6, the system was observed by a group of Marine gunners as it carried out “shoot and scoot” operations that included firing 18 rounds of 81 mm ammunition and quickly engaging multiple targets. The demonstration highlighted the ability of the Scorpion Light to fire and then relocate within minutes, an attribute intended to reduce vulnerability to counter-battery fire. The event was designed to evaluate the system’s integration with a lightweight vehicle, its capacity for expeditionary transport, and its overall suitability for dispersed Marine and special operations forces.

The Scorpion Light mortar system, known internationally as the Alakran, was developed by the Spanish company NTGS (now Milanion NTGS) in the mid-2010s as part of a wider effort to modernize and simplify mortar operations. Traditional mortar systems required large crews, extensive setup times, and heavy platforms to absorb recoil, which limited their deployment in fast-moving or dispersed operations. NTGS designed the Scorpion as a lightweight, platform-agnostic system that could be mounted on a variety of light tactical vehicles (such as Toyota Land Cruisers, Bars-8 armored carriers, URO VAMTAC 4x4s, and Polaris light tactical vehicles) without the need for structural reinforcement. Its innovative non-seating baseplate allowed mortars to be fired from hard surfaces such as concrete or sand, eliminating the need for ground preparation and speeding up relocation.

In December 2016, NTGS received its first major order to supply 100 Alakran systems integrated on Toyota Land Cruisers to Saudi Arabia, which later confirmed its operational use with its Border Guard by early 2019. By 2020, Ukraine had also integrated the system onto Bars-8 4×4 armored personnel carriers, and in 2023, NTGS signed an agreement with U.S.-based Global Ordnance to manage sales and integration of the Scorpion system in the American market, leading to the introduction of the Scorpion Light mounted on Polaris MRZR platforms at IDEX 2023. The system gained further visibility in 2024 when French special forces selected the 81 mm variant mounted on the Polaris MRZR D4 during Eurosatory, while Spain continued to integrate the Alakran into URO VAMTAC vehicles for Ukraine in the same year.

In the US, the Polaris MRZR Alpha 6×6 provides the platform for the Scorpion Light system, with its design optimized for carrying heavier payloads such as mortar rounds and other mission equipment. It offers a 65 percent larger cargo bed than the base MRZR Alpha, enabling the carriage of up to 48 mortar rounds. Of its 3,600-pound (1,632 kg) payload, 3,000 pounds (1,361 kg) can be allocated to the extended cargo bed. The addition of a third axle and a short wheelbase reduces ground pressure and increases stability on soft or uneven terrain, including mud and bogs, while preserving air transportability and top speed. With more than 90 percent parts commonality with the base MRZR Alpha, the 6×6 model simplifies maintenance and supply chains, ensuring that units can adapt it quickly for deployment in austere environments where resupply and repairs are challenging.

The Scorpion Light system incorporates a fully digital fire control system, allowing it to execute ballistic calculations automatically and shorten the time from target acquisition to firing. Operators can pre-program up to 1,000 targets, accept data from forward observers, command centers, or unmanned aerial systems, and conduct automatic re-aiming in seconds. The system can be fitted with either 81 mm or 120 mm mortars, with ranges up to 6.5 km for the 81 mm version and up to 8.2 km for the 120 mm version. One of its distinct technical features is its non-seating baseplate, which allows the system to fire from hard surfaces such as concrete or rocky terrain without needing to dig into the ground. This design eliminates conventional setup requirements and improves mobility. The system can fire eight rounds and displace in under two minutes, and when paired with the MRZR Alpha 6×6, can carry up to 72 rounds in its 81 mm variant.

Operational use of the Scorpion Light/Alakran has already been recorded in Europe and the Middle East, where it has proven resilient in environments characterized by extreme heat, dust, and rugged terrain. Ukraine has employed the system in combat, using it mounted on Toyota Land Cruisers and Bars-8 armored personnel carriers. Elite Ukrainian units such as the Kraken Special Forces have demonstrated it in combat operations, emphasizing their ability to fire rapidly and displace before being detected. Spain has delivered Alakran systems to Ukraine on URO VAMTAC tactical vehicles, and the system has also been adopted by Saudi Arabia, which procured 100 units mounted on Toyota Land Cruisers. In France, special operations forces have chosen the 81 mm version mounted on a Polaris MRZR D4 light vehicle, with systems undergoing homologation. These adoptions indicate how the platform-agnostic design has been used by different armed forces to match national requirements.

Like we said, unlike traditional mortar systems that require three to seven operators, the Scorpion can be managed by just two personnel due to its high level of automation. Its digital fire control system allows for zonal firing, multiple-round simultaneous impact techniques, and sequencing of targets, providing flexible options for indirect fire missions. The patented barrel cooling system in the Alakran “S” variant enables sustained fire of up to 16 rounds per minute without overheating, maintaining barrel temperatures under 180°C. Electro-mechanical engines provide automatic and accurate aiming, while the system’s ability to integrate on light tactical vehicles such as Toyota Land Cruisers, Humvees, Flyer 72, and Polaris vehicles increases its adaptability across different operational settings. The weight of the system and platform combined, excluding barrel and ammunition, is cited as approximately 1,814 kg, making it suitable for helicopter transport and rapid insertion.

The MRZR Alpha 6×6 itself has been developed as part of Polaris’s expanded efforts to offer mobility solutions for expeditionary forces. It uses a turbocharged diesel engine compatible with multiple fuel types, including JP-8, and incorporates an eight-speed automatic transmission with selectable two-wheel and six-wheel drive. Its towing capacity reaches 680 kg, and the vehicle can travel up to 362 km on a single refuel. The suspension system, ground clearance, and tire size are designed for off-road operation, including desert, mud, snow, and forest terrain. The platform is transportable by tactical aircraft such as the C-130 and C-17, rotary-wing aircraft including the CH-47 and CH-53, and tiltrotor aircraft such as the V-22 Osprey. Demonstrator versions have also been integrated with launchers for loitering munitions such as the Northrop Grumman Jackal, indicating the vehicle’s capacity to serve as a host for diverse weapon systems beyond mortars.