Elbit Systems unveiled the Crossbow 120 mm turreted mortar at Defence IQ’s International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2023 conference being held in London from 23 to 26 January. Janes reported that it was developed over the last three years based on Elbit’s experience in ammunition, fuzes, fire control, and command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) integration. It is scheduled to enter service in 2024 with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which financed its development. The IDF will receive dozens of Crossbows installed in Oshkosh Defense’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV).
The Crossbow is a turreted, light weight and remote-controlled 120 mm mortar system with a high level of mobility, protection and accuracy with minimal protrusion, can be easily operated by a single crew member, and is fuzed for fully automatic operation. The turreted mortar system is capable of both direct and indirect fire, even when the platform is moving. It can fire the company’s range of mortar rounds, including those with an extended range and precision guidance. It has a range of 10 km and a rate of fire exceeding 12 rds/min, achieving 16 rounds for the first minute. Crossbow is designed to be fired on the move and to shoot and scoot with a multiple round simultaneous impact (MRSI) capability.
The Crossbow and armored vehicle chassis provide protection for crew against infantry weapons fire, artillery shell fragments and Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) weapons. The turreted mortar system can be used for self-defence and various indirect fire missions. Impressive fire support and rapid response with high crew protection – all in one. At International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2023 conference, Elbit showed an artist’s impression of Crossbow mounted on a Boxer armoured vehicle. Elbit is marketing the Crossbow to NATO countries and partners, including for Czech CV90 tracked infantry fighting vehicles, Austrian Pandurs, and US Stryker wheeled armoured personnel carriers.
Elbit Systems’ battle-proven mortar systems deliver effective fire support by combining accurate mortar fire and maneuverability. CARDOM is a 120mm autonomous self-propelled recoiling mortar system with auto-laying capabilities that is compatible with a variety of fire control systems and inertial navigation systems (INS). The Spear MK II is an advanced derivative mortar system designed specifically for light-wheeled platforms, offering exceptional tactical mobility and increased survivability with shoot-and-scoot capabilities. Elbit Systems’ range of high-quality mortar ammunition is also used to provide effective Fire Support (FS) to infantry or mechanized infantry at the platoon and company level.
