Analysis: Griffon MEPAC 120mm Mortar Carrier Enhances Mobility and Firepower for Artillery Units.

The Griffon MEPAC (Mortier Embarqué Pour l’Appui au Contact - Mortar Carrier for Fire Support) introduces a game-changing approach to modern indirect fire support by delivering a fully integrated 120mm rifled mortar system inside a highly mobile, protected, and digitized armored vehicle platform. Developed under the French Army’s SCORPION program and produced by the Nexter-ARQUUS-Thales consortium, the MEPAC variant of the Griffon VBMR provides mechanized units with rapid-reaction firepower, while addressing long-standing limitations of traditional mortar systems in terms of crew exposure, deployment time, coordination, and survivability. By embedding Thales' 2R2M rifled mortar in a retractable and turreted system, MEPAC combines speed, protection, and precision in a single, network-enabled asset designed for next-generation warfare.
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Griffon MEPAC delivers high mobility and digital precision for French Army 120mm mortar fire support.

One of Griffon MEPAC’s most significant operational advantages is crew efficiency and survivability. Traditional 120mm mortar systems typically require a larger crew of four to six soldiers who must dismount to operate the weapon in open positions, exposing them to enemy fire, harsh weather, and counter-battery threats. In contrast, the MEPAC is operated by a three-person crew from inside the armored vehicle. All firing procedures, including targeting, loading, and ballistic calculations, are handled internally through a digital fire-control interface, eliminating the need for manual operation outside the vehicle. This reduces physical fatigue, enhances protection, and allows for faster reaction times under fire.

The use of Thales’ 2R2M rifled mortar system also offers enhanced accuracy and range over conventional smoothbore mortars. The rifled barrel imparts spin to the projectile, improving stability and precision. Combined with the automated fire-control system and inertial navigation, this allows MEPAC to deliver accurate strikes with reduced circular error probability, even in GPS-denied environments. The integration with the SCORPION SICS battlefield network further ensures that MEPAC can receive live target data from drones, JTACs, or other digital platforms and engage threats without manual relay or map plotting, significantly accelerating the kill chain.

The platform’s mobility is another core advantage. Built on the Griffon 6x6 wheeled chassis, MEPAC is able to keep pace with front-line mechanized infantry formations across varied terrain while maintaining high operational tempo. The vehicle can relocate between fire missions in under 30 seconds, allowing for shoot-and-scoot tactics that dramatically reduce the risk of counter-battery fire. This contrasts with towed mortar systems, which may take several minutes to set up or displace, making them far more vulnerable to detection and engagement.

MEPAC also provides logistical and maintenance benefits. By being vehicle-integrated, it reduces the burden of separate mortar carriers or towing platforms, consolidates maintenance under a single vehicle fleet type, and streamlines operational planning. The internal mortar system also allows for better ammunition stowage, environmental protection of the weapon system, and simplified resupply operations. The vehicle carries a standard load of 40 to 60 rounds, with high-explosive, smoke, and illumination options readily available, and can reload rapidly using support vehicles in the SCORPION ecosystem.

Strategically, the MEPAC enhances the autonomy and responsiveness of decentralized units. Light mechanized infantry formations that once depended on divisional-level artillery support can now carry organic indirect fire capability, extending their operational reach and survivability. In urban warfare or dispersed operations typical of hybrid conflicts, this gives commanders a decisive tool for suppression, area denial, and shaping the battlespace with minimal time delays.

The Griffon MEPAC stands as a benchmark in the evolution of mortar artillery from static and exposed systems to mobile, digitized, and network-enabled fire support assets. Its adoption by the French Army represents a broader shift toward integrating precision indirect fire capabilities directly into maneuver units, ensuring rapid reaction, reduced logistical footprint, and survivability in multi-domain combat environments.