AMERICA’S ARMY WINNING IN A COMPLEX WORLD
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ACAT III<br />
Mortar Systems<br />
PEO Ammunition | Picatinny Arsenal, NJ<br />
WARFIGHT<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
FUNCTION<br />
Mission Command<br />
Movement and Maneuver<br />
Intelligence<br />
Fires<br />
Sustainment<br />
Maneuver Support<br />
and Protection<br />
Engagement<br />
ACQUISITION<br />
LIFECYCLE PHASE<br />
Materiel Solution Analysis<br />
Technology Maturation &<br />
Risk Reduction<br />
Engineering & Manufacturing<br />
Development<br />
Production & Deployment<br />
Operations & Support<br />
MILESTONE DECISION<br />
AUTHORITY<br />
Defense Acquisition Executive<br />
Army Acquisition Executive<br />
Program Executive Officer<br />
DESCRIPTION<br />
The family of mortar systems provides organic, indirect fire support<br />
to the maneuver unit commander and is employed in all combat<br />
formations. The Army uses three variants of 120 mm mortar systems.<br />
The two mounted variants are the M121 120 mm mortar, used on the<br />
M1064A3 Mortar Carrier, and the 120 mm Recoiling Mortar System,<br />
used on the M1129 and M1252 Stryker Mortar Carriers. The M120A1<br />
120 mm Towed Mortar System is the dismounted variant. The Mortar<br />
Fire Control System (MFCS) provides the warfighter improvements in<br />
command and control of mortar fires and the speed of employment,<br />
accuracy and survivability of mortars. The M95/M96 MFCS – Mounted<br />
(MFCS-M), used on the M1064A3, M1129 and M1252, and the M150/<br />
M151 MFCS – Dismounted (MFCS-D), used with the M120A1,<br />
combine a fire control computer with an inertial navigation and pointing<br />
system, allowing crews to fire in less than a minute and greatly improving<br />
mortar lethality and accuracy, and crew survivability. The Lightweight<br />
M252A1 81 mm Mortar System and Lightweight M224A1 60 mm<br />
Mortar System have been qualified and are in production and fielding.<br />
The M252A1 weighs 20 percent less and the M224A1 weighs 13 percent<br />
less than their legacy counterparts, yet maintain the same capability. All<br />
of the mortar systems fire a full family of ammunition including highexplosive,<br />
infrared and visible light illumination, smoke, and training.<br />
The M32 and M32A1 Lightweight Handheld Mortar Ballistic<br />
Computers (LHMBC) have a tactical modem and embedded Global<br />
Positioning System, allowing mortar crews to send and receive digital<br />
call-for-fire messages, calculate ballistic solutions and navigate. The nextgeneration<br />
Android-based M32A2 is under development.<br />
The XM395 Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative (APMI) achieved<br />
an Urgent Materiel Release in March 2011. APMI has been deployed<br />
and used in combat since June 2011. Based on the success of the<br />
APMI program, the Army is moving forward with the High Explosive<br />
Guided Mortar (HEGM) and in February 2015 validated the Capability<br />
Development Document.<br />
BENEFIT TO THE WARFIGHTER<br />
Mortar Systems provide the maneuver commander rapid, responsive,<br />
hip-pocket indirect fires in support of combat operations.<br />
PROGRAM STATUS<br />
• 1QFY13-4QFY15: 1,540 Mortar Weapon Systems (Lightweight 60<br />
mm, 81 mm, 120 mm) fielded to numerous Infantry Brigade Combat<br />
Teams (IBCT), Heavy Brigade Combat Teams, Stryker Brigade<br />
Combat Teams and Special Forces groups; 295 M150/M151 Mortar<br />
Fire Control Systems and 268 Mortar Stowage Kits (MSK) fielded<br />
to 15 IBCT, 14 Infantry Battalions, and the Ranger Regiment;<br />
continued production of MFCS-D<br />
• 3QFY13: M32 Software Version 4.1 Materiel Release (MR)<br />
(Common Operating Environment Version 1.0); TC-STD 60 mm<br />
HE Mortar M1061 Enhanced Fragmentation Cartridge<br />
• 3QFY13-4QFY15: 228 LHMBC fielded to 4 IBCT, 1 Special Forces<br />
Group and 10 IBCT Battalions<br />
• 1QFY15: Completed production of the M120A1 MSK<br />
• 1QFY16: M32 Software Version 5.0 MR for M32A1 variant<br />
PROJECTED ACTIVITIES<br />
• 1QFY16-4QFY16: Continue fielding of the 60 mm Lightweight<br />
Mortar (M224A1) and product improvements<br />
• 1QFY16-4QFY17: Continue fielding of the 81 mm Lightweight<br />
Mortar (M252A1) and product improvements; continue production<br />
and fielding of MFCS-D and product improvements<br />
• 2QFY16: Begin production of M32A1; Materiel Development<br />
Decision on HEGM<br />
• 2QFY16-4QFY17: Software integration for Android-based M32A2<br />
• 3QFY16: Selection of new Mortar Weapon Systems, Mortar Weapon<br />
Components and Mortar Fire Control System prime contractors;<br />
conduct 60 mm M1061 mortar Full Materiel Release<br />
• 1QFY17-4QFY17: Begin fielding M32A1<br />
• 2QFY17: Achieve Milestone B and begin HEGM Engineering &<br />
Manufacturing Development<br />
284<br />
UNITED STATES <strong>ARMY</strong>
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