Cardom
Cardom | |
---|---|
![]() Cardom 120 mm recoil mortar system | |
Type | Recoil mortar system |
Service history | |
In service | 2003-present |
Used by | US army, IDF, NATO forces and more |
Wars | List of Conflicts
|
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Soltam Systems |
Specifications | |
Caliber | 81 mm or 120 mm |
Rate of fire | 16 rounds per min, 4 rpm sustained |
The Cardom (English: Hatchet) is an Israeli 81 mm/120 mm recoil mortar system (RMS), manufactured by Soltam Systems. It is used by the US Army, the Israel Defence Forces, NATO countries, and others. The Cardom is an autonomous, computerized system for mounting on light and medium armored carriers. The system provides accurate and effective fire support.
Overview
The system uses a new computerized integrated navigation and self-positioning and aiming systems. Its modern target acquisition devices, together with a specially designed recoiling mortar system, attenuate the firing loads and enables mounting the systems on wheeled and tracked AFV's, or even soft-skinned vehicles such as trucks. The CARDOM aiming mechanisms are linked to state-of-the-art command, control and communication systems, to achieve quick response automatic laying mode. The IDF delivered Cardom system takes target acquisition data, that provides range, bearing, position and other data from an observation point and transmits it directly to the Cardom system. Using electrical servo motors the mortar barrel is then set at the exact traverse and elevation angles ready for firing.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Keshet-120-mortar001.jpg/220px-Keshet-120-mortar001.jpg)
The 120 mm Cardom has a burst rate of 16 rpm, followed by a 4 rpm sustained rate of fire. The Cardom recoil mortar system has been qualified for fielding with the 3rd US Army Stryker brigade, and will be coupled to the US Army's M95 mortar fire control system on the M1129 mortar carrier. So far over 320 mortar systems have been manufactured for the U.S. Army.
Performance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Illuminationflare.jpg/250px-Illuminationflare.jpg)
- Range: 7,000-8,000 meters
- Calibre: 120/81mm smoothbore and rifled
- Max rate of fire : 16 rounds per minute
- Traverse (deg) : 360
- Shoot of first round: less than 30 sec
- Crew : 2-4 dependent on carrier
- Dual mode : mounted and dismounted
Operators
Azerbaijan
- Azerbaijani Land Forces[1]
Bahrain
- Royal Bahraini Army special forces (purchased to Spain, fitted on the URO VAMTAC) [2]
Cameroon
- Cameroon Army[1]
- Royal Danish Army (also known as M/10 or Cardom 10)[3]
- Israeli Army[4][5]
- Spanish Army[7]
- Uganda Army[1]
- Zambian Army[9]
See also
- M1129 mortar carrier – (United States)
- AMOS – (Finland)
- Patria NEMO – (Finland)
- Soltam 120 mm mortar system – (Israel)
- Soltam 155 mm mobile howitzer – (Israel)
- Light-weight combat vehicle – (Japan)
References
- ^ a b c d e f Mortars on the move (Report). Armada International. August 3, 2015. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "EIMOS CARDOM 81mm gallery | Weapons Parade | EIMOS CARDOM". Weapons Parade (in Spanish). 2018-05-11. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ "Tung mortér - Cardom 10". Forsvaret (The Danish Defence). Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "Elbit Systems to supply Israeli Army with Cardom mortar systems for approximately $40 million". Army Recignition. September 20, 2011. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ^ "Elbit Systems to supply Israeli Ministry of Defense with Cardom 120mm mortar artillery". Army Recignition. January 7, 2013. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ "Report: Elbit Systems to Upgrade M113 APCs for Philippine Army". 31 July 2017.
- ^ "Elbit Systems won contract to supply CARDOM 81 mm autonomous recoil mortar for Spanish Army". Army Recignition. October 31, 2011. Archived from the original on December 3, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ "Jane - Defense & Security 2022: Royal Thai Army expands artillery production".
- ^ "Zambian military parades new equipment".
Further reading
- "SOLTAM 120 mm Mortar - Mortar systems" (PDF). elbitsystems.com. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- "SOLTAM 81 mm Mortar - Mortar systems" (PDF). elbitsystems.com. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- "Mortar systems". elbitsystems.com. 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Cardom mortar system on defense-update.com
Video
- youtube video of Cardom system