Israeli Defense Forces order Elbit Cardom computerized, autonomous mortar launcher in $40 million deal

HAIFA, Israel, 18 Sept. 2011. The Israeli Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, Israel, is buying $40 million worth of Cardom autonomous, computerized 120-millimeter recoil mortar systems for light and medium armored combat vehicles from the Soltan Systems Ltd. subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd. in Haifa, Israel, Elbit officials announced today. Cardom computerized integrated navigation, self positioning, and aiming systems to provide fast fire support for wheeled and soft armored fighting vehicles or military trucks.Soltan will supply the autonomous mortar launchers over the next four years, Elbit officials say. The Cardom mortars are operated by various Israel Defense Forces infantry units, as well as by the U.S. Army and various other armies around the world.The Cardom mortar system links to military command, control, and communications systems for quick-response automatic fire-support. The system takes target acquisition data with range, bearing, position, and other data from an observation position and transmits it directly to the mortar launcher. It uses electrical servo motors to set the mortar barrel to correct traverse and elevation angles before firing.It has a burst rate of 16 rounds per minute, followed by a 4-rounds-per-minute sustained rate of fire. Cardom is part of the 3rd U.S. Army Stryker brigade, and will be coupled to the Army's M95 mortar fire control system.

For more information contact Elbit Systems online at www.elbitsystems.com.

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