Airborne assault troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine begin controlled operation of six BARS 8MMK mobile mortar units developed and manufactured by Ukroboronservice State Enterprise, which is a part of Ukroboronprom State Concern. The hardware is designed to support the operations of mechanized infantry in action against raids, sabotage and reconnaissance groups. A significant advantage of the BARS 8MMK is high speed of preparing for action and back to travel. Ukroboronservice is the only developer of BARS 8MMK mobile mortar complex and provider of services of staff and instructors trainings for the operation and maintenance of the complex.
The BARS-8MMK is a new mobile self-propelled mortar vehicle using the chassis of the BARS-8 4×4 wheeled armored vehicle. The BARS-8MMK carries a 120 mortar which can be deployed automatically at the rear of the vehicle to perform firing operations. It takes only 30 seconds to bring this artillery system in firing condition, and the vehicle is able to leave the firing position in less than 20 seconds. The BARS-8MMK has a crew of three and can carry up to 60 mortar ammunition. The vehicle is equipped with an integrated Fire Control system, which can be operated either from inside the cab or by a mortar team member standing alongside the vehicle. It has a maximum firing range of 8,000 meters and a rate of fire of 12 rounds/min.
The BARS-8 is a 4×4 armored vehicle designed and manufactured by the Ukrainian Company Bogdan. The vehicle is built on the Dodge Ram pick-up truck’s 4×4 wheeled chassis. It has a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 kg and a payload capacity of 2,000 kg. The BARS-8 offers protection against firing of small arms and artillery shell splinters up to Level 2 STANAG 4569. The vehicle is motorized with a 6.7l Cummins V8 turbo diesel engine developing 350 hp. coupled to an Allison six-speed automatic or manual transmission system. The BARS-8 can run at a maximum road speed of 120 km/h and has a fording depth of 0.76 m.
The mortar unit is equipped with a 120 mm mortar with a maximum range of high-explosive fragmentation mine up to 7100m. The hardware enables automatic steering on to the target, resetting initial barrel position after the shot was fired, detecting its own location, etc. Besides, the unit has a system which automatically adjusts firing conditions granting information from the onboard weather station. Now it is three times quicker than similar weapons in service of the Armed Forces ofd Ukraine, despite the fact that the crew is twice smaller than the crew of the standard towed mortar.
