A defense ministry unveiled a 120mm semi-active laser-guided mortar round intended to deliver precision indirect-fire capability from standard smoothbore mortar tubes. The munition was presented at a regional defense exhibition and is positioned as a relatively low-cost precision alternative to larger precision-guided munitions. Reported operational range spans about 4.5 to 8 kilometers, and the round’s mass is roughly 31 kilograms, with a warhead containing 10.7 kilograms of high-explosive fragmentation, including about 4.1 kilograms of explosive fill. Guidance is provided by a semi-active laser seeker that homes on an illuminated target, enabling a top-attack profile suitable against light armored vehicles, hardened positions, and concentrated personnel. Program figures cite a hit probability around 0.7 under certain test conditions — a materially higher likelihood of effect than unguided mortar barrages. A key design objective is compatibility with standard mortar crews and logistics: the round can be handled, prepared, and fired using existing mortar tubes and procedures, eliminating the need for specialized launchers or major fire-control modifications. The munition supports coordinated employment patterns such as dispersed salvoing of guided rounds at a laser-designated target or simultaneous engagement of closely spaced objectives without signal interference. This combination of precision, ease of integration, and relative affordability makes the system tactically attractive for forces seeking precision indirect fire without major platform changes, and it raises proliferation concerns for planners focused on limiting the spread of guided munitions. Operationally, the introduction of such a round changes force-protection calculus because small, mobile mortar teams could deliver precision top-attack effects with increased lethality and reduced exposure compared with massed unguided barrages.
