Elbit Systems to Supply Precision Shells for Philippine Army's M125A2 Mortar Carriers equipped with Cardom 120mm mortar systems.

Elbit System Land has won a contract to supply 120mm precision-guided mortar shells to the Philippine Army. According to MaxDefense Philippines, this contract was announced in June 2024 through a Notice of Award. It is expected that the supplied mortars will be Elbit's Iron Sting precision-guided shells. These mortars can be fired from the M125A2 PA armored mortar carrier equipped with the Elbit Soltam Cardom 120mm mortar system. This type of Iron Sting mortar has been popularized by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and used in their conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
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Philippine Army's M125A2 Mortar Carriers equipped with Cardom 120mm mortar systems (Picture source: Philippines MoD)

The new Armored Mortar Carriers (AMCs) are part of the Philippine Army's Armored Division (Pambato) modernization project aimed at strengthening the country's land forces' credible defense posture against various threats, both local and international. The shootings aimed to test the effectiveness and adaptability of the new weapon system to actual deployments. This also served as a refresher training for the trained crews. As part of the deliverables for the Revised AFP Modernization Program under Horizon 2, 15 units of M125A2 Armored Mortar Carriers (AMC) with 120mm Mounted Mortar Systems (MMS) were delivered by Elbit Systems on December 29, 2021. The fleet of armored vehicles with improved weaponry under the Philippine Army's Mounted Mortar Acquisition Project is part of the firepower upgrade for the Mechanized Infantry Battalions and the soon-to-be-reactivated Tank Battalion of the Philippine Army's Armor Division. 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 units.

The 120mm precision-guided mortar shell, Iron Sting, offers robust capabilities in all battlefield scenarios with three operating modes: GPS/IMU, SAL+GPS/IMU, and SAL+IMU. The laser and GPS-guided mortar shell has a range of 1 to 12 km, depending on the mortar tube. The Iron Sting is equipped with a laser seeker capable of operating with standard pulse (NATO STANAG 3722) and an encoded CW laser diode. The warhead can penetrate double reinforced concrete with blast and fragmentation effects. The Iron Sting features a multi-mode fuze with Point Detonation (PD), Point Detonation Delay (PDD), and Proximity Sensor (PRX) operating modes. Key benefits of this system include high lethality and precision, lightweight design, cost-effectiveness, and no requirement for meteorological data. Its key features include GMS/IMU+SAL guidance, a laser seeker sensor, a range of 1 to 12 km, a fragmentation/penetration warhead, and a mission loading time of 15 seconds.

Elbit Soltam Cardom 120mm mortar system firing 120mm precision-guided mortar shells (Picture source: Elbit Systems)

The CARDOM is an autonomous, computerized 120mm recoiling mortar system suitable for various tracked and wheeled armored carriers. It provides accurate, effective, and immediate fire support for rapid deployment units, special forces, as well as infantry and artillery units. This system is lightweight, low-profile, NATO-qualified, and allows for rapid deployment with reduced lifecycle costs. It features precise firepower with a rate of 16 rounds per minute, shoot-and-scoot capability, an automatic laying system, integrated INS, and a fire control system.

The CARDOM, combat-proven, is in active service in modern armies like the U.S. Army within the Stryker 8×8 brigades, the Israel Defense Forces, and other leading armies. Its unique design allows ground operation of its 120mm barrel and the adaptation of an 81mm barrel to reduce training costs and decrease collateral damage in urban areas. The advanced embedded Fire Control System (FCS) combines an Inertial Navigation System (INS), electrical drives for automatic laying, and an onboard ballistic computer. It easily integrates with an in-service Battle Management System (BMS), providing a direct digital link to modern target acquisition sensors like UAS, radars, and other detection systems.

With its lightweight and low-profile design, the CARDOM maintains vehicle transportability without compromising the armor needed for modern airborne expeditionary missions. The CARDOM has a proven shoot-and-scoot capability allowing the "first round on target" within 30 to 60 seconds and massive firepower with a rate of up to 16 rounds per minute. Elbit Systems offers a complete "sensor to shooter to target" solution tailored to all customer requirements, including full vehicle integration, ammunition, scalable command and control capabilities, and varied target acquisition platforms, all digitally connected. Easy and safe to operate, the CARDOM integrates smoothly with in-service battle management systems.

Israeli M125A2 Mortar Carriers equipped with Cardom 120mm mortar systems (Picture source: Elbit Systems)