New images of the Crossbow provided by Elbit Systems shows it integrated onto the roof of an ARTEC Boxer (8×8) Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV), a platform that is being adopted by an increasing number of countries for a range of battlefield missions. Shephard Media reported that Elbit Systems’s new Crossbow 120 mm smooth bore turreted mortar system is expected to start unmanned firing trials in mid-2023. At Defence IQ’s International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2023, Elbit showed an artist’s impression of Crossbow mounted on a Boxer armoured vehicle.
Elbit Systems’s new Crossbow 120 mm smooth bore turreted mortar system is expected to start unmanned firing trials in mid-2023. Elbit Systems’s Crossbow mortar will move to firing trials this year as the company prepares it for the Israel Defense Force (IDF) and potential exports. The IDF will receive dozens of Crossbows installed in Oshkosh Defense’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV). Elbit Systems is marketing the Crossbow to NATO countries and partners, including for Czech CV90 tracked armoured vehicles, Austrian Pandurs, and US Stryker wheeled armoured vehicles.
The weapon can be installed in a mission module with minimal protrusion, can be easily operated by a single crew member, and is fuzed for fully automatic operation. 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, an Elbit representative told Janes on 23 January. Crossbow is designed to be fired on the move and to shoot and scoot with a multiple round simultaneous impact (MRSI) capability.
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.
