At IndoDefence 2014 Rheinmetall shows Wiesel 2 120mm tracked airborne armoured mortar carrier 071114.

Sensors monitor the barrel temperature, fire position and the volumetric efficiency of the barrel brakes, indicating the functional readiness and operational status of the weapon. Systematic FE analysis, lightweight design and high-strength materials have produced a mortar system weighing just 310kg. The increased wall strength in high-stress zones of the tube and the use of high-strength materials enable a maximum range of 8km with the mortar’s specially developed rounds.

In order to operate in difficult terrain – in the mountains, for example, in the jungle, on coastal terrain or in an urban environment – today’s armed forces need a flexible, quickly deployable, protected platform that can be readily integrated into network-enabled operations and which, above all, can be transported by air either on board or as underslung cargo. It was precisely with these capabilities in mind that Rheinmetall developed the Wiesel (‘weasel’) family of vehicles, which the company is presenting at Indo Defence 2014.

Today the Wiesel 2 family covers practically the full range of military ground capabilities, encompassing a reconnaissance vehicle, a command post version, an antitank missile launcher platform, an automatic cannon platform, an engineering scout vehicle and a field ambulance version. Other variants include joint fire support team and joint fire support coordination team vehicles and a 120mm mortar carrier; a Wiesel-based mobile air defence system consisting of an air defence command post vehicle, an air defence reconnaissance and fire control vehicle, and an air defence weapon carrier round out the portfolio.