The French Defense Procurement Angency (Direction générale de l’armement or DGA) awarded to the Austrian Hirtenberger Defense Europe GmbH, associated with the French company Munitique, specializing in the distribution of small-caliber ammunition for the purchase of 120 60 mm mortars shells, the supply of auxiliary bipods and their associated pointing devices, technical documentation, batches of tools as well as training for first-time trainers. The contract amount amounts to almost 17 million euros. According to ArmyRecognition, in april 2017, the DGA launched a tender for the purchase of mortars and thousands of munitions of various types but did not attract several manufacturers since only two offers were made.
The Hirtenberger 60mm mortar systems is equiped with the R08 mortar sight for indirect aiming process in azimuth and elevation. For a quick and easy setting of the elevation the mortar, the R08 sight is featuring a interchnageable metal plate which is carring the differnt ballistic data of the ammunition. The ballistic data, the angle of elevation for each range in meters, of each type of mortar ammunition like HE, SMK or ILL is available.Within the sight a permanent MIL scale is integrated. With this ballistic plates the operator can adjust the mortar elevation according to range estimations or range measurements without additional ballistic calculations in the field. All viles and bubbles illuminated by LED ´s are enable the user to operate 24 hours, powerd by two AA batteries directly on the sight.
The forged barrel which is availble in ballistic lenght of 640, 895 and 1000 mm, made out of high-strength special steel with additionally fixing positions between bundles to prevent it from sliding at higher loads. Pre-adjustment of elevation is possible due to four different pre-set positions. The muzzle end is tapered on the inside to facilitate loading of bombs. The breech cap seals the barrel at the rear and is carring the firing pin with partially hardened point which can be replaced in all mortar positions or retracted in case of misfire. The forged barrel which is availble in ballistic lenght of 640, 895 and 1000 mm, made out of high-strength special steel with additionally fixing positions between bundles to prevent it from sliding at higher loads. The muzzle end is tapered on the inside to facilitate loading of bombs.
The bipod carries the barrel clamp, the sealed gears and the shock absorbers, which mangage the damping in all terrain and military eviroment conditions. The handling of gears, positioning of the sight eyepiece and the overall gunners position is optimised for ergonomic operation. All these features will result in a fast setup and easy handling and aiming process during operational employment trouble-free operation on all types of terrain. The base plate is drop-forged and made of a high-strength aluminium alloy with reinforcing ribs. The design combines low weight with high stability so that the base plate is able to withstand highest impact stresses.
