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Due to the Ukrainian conflict, Europe has stepped up its defence modernisation plans and industrial manufacturing capabilities. Developments on the battlefield have emphasised the importance of mobile and dispersed indirect fire, which is reflected in recent investments by European defence ministries in self-propelled mortar platforms and network communication equipment. At the same time, some European nations are investing in their mortar ammunition production capabilities, in some cases quadrupling their output. In preparation for the Future Mortar Conference, we are releasing the European Market Snapshot, highlighting some of the most essential investments in mortar technology.

In preparation for the 12th annual Future Mortar Systems conference, we are releasing what we believe will be the most impactful technologies in the domain. Despite mortars existing for centuries in one form or another, the concept of dismounted soldiers delivering indirect fire support from a distance remains as relevant as ever. Their value and capability have only increased as new technologies are applied not only to improve performance but also to adapt to the current and future threats of the battlefield.

Loitering Ammunition is quickly becoming a must-have in modern arsenals. The development of new technologies and the reduction of manufacturing costs and challenges have led to a rapid adoption of the technology, which was only compounded by its effective use in recent conflicts. What was once launched by significantly sized platforms has undergone rapid miniaturisation, giving new breath to dismounted indirect fire teams. The following piece introduces this revolutionary technology and dives into the US’s adoption efforts.

In the dispersed modern battlefield, indirect fires forces are preparing for a new kind of warfare. The threat landscape demands mobile, precise infantry forces to bolster lethality. In this interview, Major Robert Mein, Canada’s Director of Indirect Fires Modernization, Land Requirements 2-2, shares his expert view on:

• Challenges facing Canadian indirect fire modernisation
• Tactical strategies to ensure operational effectiveness in today’s dispersed battlefield
• Technological advancements to enhance mortar system capabilities
  

Ahead of the Future Mortar System Conference, the 2024 Snapshot of Attendees highlights the leading organizations within the industry and an extensive list of high-level attendees that will be attending this year.

The Future Mortar Systems conference serves as an excellent platform for the exchange of knowledge, collaboration, and the exploration of groundbreaking developments in the field of mortar systems. This two-day event will bring together leading experts, innovators, and industry professionals from around the world.

Join us as we address the themes of ‘technology’, ‘survivability’, and ‘manoeuvrability’ in the modernisation of future mortar systems.

The “US Army Mortar Requirements” presentation was delivered last year at the Future Mortar Systems conference and covers;

• Mortar Modernization Analysis
• Common Concerns
• The Infantry Battalion Mortar System: E81
• E81 Mortar Cannon, Ammunition Range & Mobility
• Future Efforts

The US Army is a global leader in propelling development that advances the capabilities of indirect fire systems and will join us this year at the Future Mortar Systems conference taking place from 29-30 October 2024 at the Copthorne Tara Hotel, London, UK.

The 12th annual Future Mortar Systems conference will take place from 29th - 30th October, 2024 at the Copthorne Tara Hotel, London, UK. The world’s only event of its kind, exploring developments of mortar technology that align with military demand.

To give you an idea of the industry pioneers and leaders from across the military and government that will be attending the conference this year, I wanted to share our 2023 Snapshot of Attendee's which showcases the leading organisations and industry experts that attended last year.

Few weapons have maintained their relevancy throughout the decades than the mortar. Reliable, cheap, and lethal, the mortar maintains its position as must-have for many forces world-wide. One has to only look at the Ukrainian conflict to validate its relevancy. In this piece Pavlo Khoma, Ukrainian defence expert, delves into the use of the mortar by both sides sharing both insights and trends.

Key takeaways:

• While the mortar remains a simple straight forward system there is a lot of potential for its use
• The Ukrainians have leveraged their technology such as special apps to effectively use mortars
• While not all lessons from the conflict are universal, certain lessons, such as the importance of shoot-and-scoot are

>> Read the report

In this interview NTGS Milanion how the challenges and trends on the battlefield have informed the production of the ALAKRAN, a modular deployable mortar system. This piece gives insight on how real-world challenges are analysed and then acted upon; a must read for industry and end users alike.

Despite over a century of use, mortars remain a significant element of any ground force. Mortars and other forms of artillery have become the principal source of casualties in the Ukrainian War, highlighting their continued relevancy on the battlefield. The platform itself has also developed with the introduction of guided munitions and new capabilities, such as being mounted on vehicles for greater “shoot-and-scoot”. These developments, however, come at odds with the mortar’s primary advantage of cost-effectiveness. This content sums up the most recent purchases, an essential piece for anyone wishing to further their analysis of the trends in the market.

Defence IQ had the opportunity to discuss with Mr Ross Arnold, Senior Research Engineer, U.S. Army CCDC, on the vision of the future mortar system in the U.S. Army.

Download the piece now >>

Key benefits of downloading the piece:

• Gain exclusive insight into the U.S. Army’s future mortar system from Mr Arnold who will be attending this year’s Future Mortar Systems Conference
• Learn more about what the U.S. Army is currently focusing on to develop the future mortar system
• Understand how new technologies will be leveraged to enhance the U.S. Army’s mortar capabilities

With $5.2 billion of investment, Long-Range Precision Fires is the number one modernization priority for the U.S. Army’s Future Command, which aims at increasing ranges and lethality of its artillery capabilities. As the multi-domain theatre of operations becomes more complex and as potential adversaries develop disruptive technologies to hinder the U.S. Army and allied nations’ operations, the need to leverage new technologies to retain overmatch is crucial. 

In this piece, Mr Arnold answers the following questions:

• Artillery is one of the six modernisation priorities of the US Army’s Futures Command. Could you share your thoughts on the vision of the future mortar system in particular?
• How do you envision new technologies being implemented within existing and future weapons systems?
• What impact do you foresee disruptive technologies having on the deployment of mortar systems?
• What standards it the US Army looking to implement in future weapons systems to assist with interoperability between coalition nations from a governance and tactics point of view?

In this exclusive interview, Brigadier General Luis Torcál Ortega, Commander, Field Artillery Command, Spanish Army shares insight into the current and future artillery capabilities of the Spanish Army.  This interview addresses key themes that will be discussed further by Colonel Ángel Esparza López, Commanding Officer, Lusitania Regiment, Spanish Army, a key speaker of our conference.

Download the interview on the right >>

Key benefits of downloading the interview:

• Gain insight into the Spanish Army’s Programme 2035 
• Learn how the Spanish Army is preparing to operate in the future operating environment
• Learn more about how technology is impacting the Spanish Army’s artillery capabilities

Read now a preview of the interview:

DFIQ: Spain has quite an ambitious programme for recapitalisation of artillery assets in Spain and also to replace M109s with a wheeled self-propelled 155 mm system. Why a wheeled vehicle? 

LT: Well, for the command-and-control system, yes. But [for the M109 replacement] wheeled is a personal preference. Both options have their advantages. But full-tracked, self-propelled guns are very expensive to procure. They are also more expensive to maintain, and in fact, the main reason for me to support the wheeled option is that, as gunners, we don't really need full-track vehicles, because we don't fight like tanks. We don't have to follow the tracks of the tanks. Most of the time we operate on roads, and so need to have all-terrain capability, but we are not in the need of full-track capability. And that’s why I think that it’s much better and much more affordable to have a wheeled solution.

A new dawn for mortar systems has arrived. While lessons and upgrades have been harnessed from Afghanistan, tomorrow's conflicts may present an entirely different environment with a number of emerging obstacles. These considerations are just some of the operational problems that delegates will be taking with them to Future Mortar Systems conference...

With Defence iQ's Future Mortar Systems conference approaching, we wanted to share our latest Sponsorship Prospectus to showcase the opportunities we have available. This conference will be attended by officials and decision-makers from indirect fire industry, bringing together buyers and suppliers in one location.

This Sponsorship Prospectus Covers;

• Organisations and job titles that attended last year
• Unique benefits of sponsoring
• Strategic partnership packages
• Sponsorship opportunities
• Full 2024 speaker lineup