ENHANCING MORTAR MANOEUVRABILITY, SURVIVABILITY AND LETHALITY
FOR THE MODERN INFANTRY FORCE
29 - 30 OCTOBER, 2024 | COPTHORNE TARA HOTEL, LONDON, UK
Agenda Day 1 - 29 October
8:55 am - 9:00 am
CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS
Colonel John Musgrave -
DACOS, Empowerment,
British Army
9:30 am - 10:00 am
KEYNOTE BRIEFING: PERSPECTIVES FROM DEVCOM’S MOUNTED MORTAR AUTOMATION BRANCH
· Integration onto vehicle platforms
· System benefits
· Technological developments
9:30 am - 10:00 am
PATRIA: ENHANCEMENT OF TRADITIONAL MORTAR CAPABILITY
Lauri Pauniaho -
Director, Weapon Systems,
Patria
· Enhancing the mobility, protection and accuracy of mortar units
· Technology responding to the requirements of warfighting
· Presenting new solutions for mortar systems – now and in the future
10:00 am - 10:30 am
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARMOURED MODULAR MOBILE MORTAR SYSTEM
Colonel Ari Lehmuslehti -
Inspector of Infantry,
Finnish Defence Forces
· Finnish tactics used for Modular Mobile Mortar systems (M3)
· A cost-effective approach to make heavy mortars more mobile
· Combining 120MM barrels with recoil dampening frame
10:30 am - 11:00 am
MORNING COFFEE
11:00 am - 11:30 am
BOOSTING THE BRITISH ARMY’S FIREPOWER WITH HINGED AND MOUNTED MORTARS
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Brunskill -
Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicle Senior Requirements Manager,
UK Defence Equipment & Support
• Programme update on the BOXER 120MM procurement journey
• Advancing the mobility of troops through forward thinking power to weight ratios
• Challenges with deployment by Armoured Brigade Combat Teams (ABCT), and solutions posed by the DE&S
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Brunskill
Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicle Senior Requirements ManagerUK Defence Equipment & Support
11:00 am - 11:30 am
THE ITALIAN INFANTRY ARMOURED VEHICLE PROGRAMME (IFV): THE LARGEST LAND BASED ACQUISITION PROGRAMME IN EUROPE
Major Emiliano Esposito -
Head of Land Armaments Directorate,
Italian Army
· Replacement of armoured vehicles to align fleet with current geopolitical demand
· Current challenges facing fast paced strategic operations
· Solutions posed to ensure successful integration of 120MM mortar systems into the IFV programme
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
UPDATE ON SWISS ARMY PLANS TO ENSURE A MODERN, POWERFUL AND ACCURATE VEHICLE MOUNTED MORTAR SYSTEM
Lieutenant Colonel Yoann Poffet -
12 cm Mortar 16 lead, Armour and Artillery Training Command,
Swiss Armed Forces
· The production of the cutting-edge 12CM (120MM) Mortar 16 systems to regain the capabilities of indirect fire support
· The versatility of integration into both tracked and wheeled vehicles to overcome the challenges faced of land operations in built-up terrain
· Critical challenges to achieve operational effectiveness
Lieutenant Colonel Yoann Poffet
12 cm Mortar 16 lead, Armour and Artillery Training CommandSwiss Armed Forces
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
LUNCH AND NETWORKING
BOLSTERING INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN NATO NATIONS AND ALLIES
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
THE INTEROPERABILITY OF MUNITION AND COMPONENTS
Michael Markowitch -
Assistant Project Officer 81mm Flashbang Munition,
US Army
• The importance of interoperable mortar ammunition in today’s geopolitical landscape
• US strategic ambitions for ammo interoperability to enhance efficiency and accuracy of allied land operations
• Overcoming the challenges facing NATO and allied nations in mortar system ammunition alignment
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
THE IMPACT OF THE UKRAINIAN WAR ON SUPPLY CHAINS
Tim Ingersoll -
Chief of Section,
NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA)
- Supply chain management
- Integrating data into fire systems
- Commonality of procedure
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION: OBSERVATIONS FROM UKRAINE: THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEROPERABILE MUNITIONS WHEN FACING HOSTILE STATES
Today’s mortar systems continue to play a key role on the battlefield. The need for combined arms units on the
frontline to be interoperable, as we see a return to high intensity warfare, is essential.
This panel will discuss:
• How can interoperability between NATO Nations be achieved?
• What are the major impediments to restoring munition interchangeability?
• Through what mechanisms will the alliance lessons address this challenge?
• How important is interchangeable member ammunition to deterring conflict?
• The future of interchangeable member ammunition through technical programmes
ADVANCING SURVIVABILITY
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
AFTERNOON TEA AND NETWORKING
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
THE GROWTH OF SWEDISH ARTILLERY
Colonel Stefan Sjöberg -
Chief of Artillery,
Swedish Armed Forces
• Sweden entering NATO – some first impressions
• R&D and demonstration
• The Nordic dimension of cooperation for indirect fires
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
DUTCH ARMY’S FIRE SUPPORT CAPABILITIES
Colonel Harm van der Have -
Commander, Manoeuvre Education and Training Center,
Royal Netherlands Army
- Dutch 120MM self-propelled mortar procurement for superior fire support capabilities
- Reducing the risk of enemy counter-fire through advanced operational engagement
- Current capability gaps preventing effective maneuverability and survivability
Colonel Harm van der Have
Commander, Manoeuvre Education and Training CenterRoyal Netherlands Army
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
DELIVERING MORE IMPACT THROUGH FIRST-ROUND ACCURACY: ENHANCING SURVIVABILITY IN PEER-TO-PEER CONFLICT
Lieutenant Colonel Rémy Jaillet -
Field Artillery, Air defense, C-UAV Programmes & Equipment staff officer,
French Army
· Revolutionary ground combat support for 120MM self-propelled mortar system effectiveness
· Reshaping the landscape of military artillery through unparalleled firepower and mobility
· Current problems and solutions posed by the French military to ensure operational effectiveness in today’s geopolitical landscape
Lieutenant Colonel Rémy Jaillet
Field Artillery, Air defense, C-UAV Programmes & Equipment staff officerFrench Army
