Having the ability to rapidly displace after firing has been firmly established as an essential requirement for indirect fire weapons if they are going to survive on today’s battlefield a premise that is equally true for artillery and the mortar.
At Army 2024 the Russian military debuted a novel approach to provide this capability to the 120mm heavy mortar. They displayed a 2B11 120mm mortar mounted onto the Quadriga 4×4 platform, thus making it self-propelled mortar system.
The 2B11 is the widely fielded Russian heavy mortar while the Quadriga is typically seen employed as a robotic, unmanned ground vehicle (UGV).
The integration of the 120 mm mortar on the Quadriga provides the weapon inherent mobility and the ability to traverse cross-county and paths in concert with, most likely, dismounted infantry units.
The Quadriga is designed with a very low noise making it suitable to operate forward without detection. Its 30 kmph maximum speed, compact size, and 800 km range facilitate its ability to both move with these units and to displace quickly. The latter is aided by the ability of the system to set-up to fire within under two-minutes and to displace as quickly.
The 2B11 12 mortar has an established record as a reliable system capable of firing a range of projectiles including high explosive able to neutralize emplacements, personnel and material at ranges up to 7 km. It can effectively deliver up to ten rounds per minute.
As the system includes a seat for a weapon operator it is evident that the Quadriga 120, although capable of unmanned movement, is intended to be laid, loaded and fired by a crew (it is not automatically loaded and remotely fired). The platform does, however, carry sixteen mortar rounds onboard.
The integration of the 120mm mortar on its own UGV based mobility platform does offer a more satisfactory capability for operating closely with combat units.
It is definitely able to emplace and displace more quickly that the wheeled-towed configuration currently fielded in combat units.
Utilizing the existing Quadriga UGV platform also reduces development risk, facilitates more rapid potential fielding, and simplifies logistics support. It also still allows for use of typical UGV movement controls like leader-follower.
It would further be reasonable to potentially find the Quadriga 120 mortar teams complemented with additional UGVs carrying additional ammunition, thus, increasing the autonomy of the firing units.
by Stephen W. Miller
