Philippine Army test-fires Elbit Systems M125A2 Armored Mortar Carriers.

In Pantao Ragat, Lanao del Norte, on February 12, Philippine Army's 4th Mechanized Infantry (Kalasag) Battalion conducted a functional test of its newly-acquired M125A2 Armored Mortar Carrier (AMC) armed with a CARDOM 120mm Mounted Mortar System (MMS), Defense Studies reports.
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Firing test of Elbit Systems’ 120mm mortar mounted in an M125A2 Armored Mortar Carrier (Picture source: Philippine Army)

The new AMCs are part of the Philippine Army Modernization project of Armor (Pambato) Division that will capacitate the country’s land forces’ credible defense posture from various threats; local and international. The shootings aimed to test the new weapon system on its effectiveness and adaptability to actual ground deployments. This also served as a refresher training to the trained crews.

As part of the deliverables for the Revised AFP Modernization Program under Horizon 2, 15 units of M125A2 Armored Mortar Carrier (AMC) with 120mm Mounted Mortar Systems (MMS) were delivered by Elbit Systems on December 29, 2021. The fleet of armored vehicles with an improved weapon under the Mounted Mortar Acquisition Project of the Philippine Army are part of the firepower upgrade for the Mechanized Infantry Battalions and soon-to-be-reactivated Tank Battalion of the Armor Division, Philippine Army. The Armor “Pambato” Division is one of the primary units of the Philippine Army stationed at Camp O’Donnell, Brgy. Sta. Lucia, Capas, Tarlac, Philippines. The Armor (Pambato) Division is a combined arms organization composed of armored (tank), cavalry and mechanized infantry.

Firing test of Elbit Systems’ 120mm mortar mounted in an M125A2 Armored Mortar Carrier (Picture source: Philippine Army)