Spanish Army Acquires Eimos Mortars from Rheinmetall Expal.

According to Infodefensa, the Spanish Army has awarded a contract to Rheinmetall Expal Munitions to supply 81mm Eimos mortar systems mounted on vehicles, valued at €134 million (including taxes) over the next four years.
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The Eimos is a mortar system, developed by Rheinmetall Expal. (Picture source: Rheinmetall)

Although the contract does not specify the exact number of units to be acquired, it is expected that more than 80 systems could be delivered. As confirmed by Infodefensa.com, the contract includes not only the purchase of the mortar systems but also the Urovesa Vamtac vehicles and the integration of these systems onto these platforms.

The Army’s Logistics Support Command (MALE) managed the contract through a negotiated procedure without public notice, which allows for the direct selection of a company without publishing tender documents. The Army justified this approach by stating that "the contract can only be executed by a specific economic operator due to the lack of competition for technical reasons."

The contract formalization is expected in the second half of October, with mounted mortar deliveries extending until December 2027, in line with the project timeline.

The vehicle-mounted mortar system is one of the flagship projects of the Ministry of Defense's new investment cycle. This announcement was made by the Secretary of State for Defense, Amparo Valcarce, during the third edition of Feindef in May 2023.

The Eimos system, also known as Dual Eimos, is a solution developed by Rheinmetall Expal as part of an R&D program of the Ministry of Defense, in response to the requirements of the Marine Infantry and the Spanish Army. The system features automatic fire control and 360° aiming without requiring repositioning or reorientation of the vehicle, and without deploying additional components, enabling a highly effective "shoot and scoot" capability—a tactical method where artillery fires and relocates quickly.

The Vamtac ST5, which hosts the Dual Eimos system, is capable of crossing deep waters up to 1.5 meters without prior preparation. The vehicle is also equipped with a stress absorption system to enhance performance. The mortar system includes a new-generation Inertial Navigation Unit (INU), providing increased precision in aiming. It also integrates Talos, the Army's command and control system for artillery.

The Eimos system is part of the equipment that the Spanish Army aims to integrate under the Fuerza 35 project, which seeks to modernize the capabilities of cavalry units in the coming years. The Spanish Navy's Marine Infantry has already been operating the Rheinmetall Expal Eimos system for two years, while the Spanish Army received its first units in late 2023, as reported by Infodefensa.com. These systems are already in service with the Paratrooper Brigade.