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M6 Acrobat 60mm Long Range Mortar

The 60 mm Long Range Mortar Product System provides the Motorised and Parachute Infantry with an integrated, accurate and supportable Indirect Fire Support capability. This system entails the 60 mm weapon (including H-019 sight), ammunition, fire control (observation and fire directing), training simulator subsystems and products with their associated logistic support. The system is a complete integrated Indirect Fire Support Product System which has two system configurations, the Armoured Personnel Carrier Mortar Variant and the Ground Role IFS-PS.

A handheld Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) solution as Mortar Fire Control (MFC) was developed for the 60mm Mortar System, used in conjunction with a Laser Range Finder (LRF). The LRF has an onboard compass to fulfil target acquisition and fire adjustment tasks. The accuracy is based on the magnetic compass and the PDA takes into account the magnetic declination. The Observer Control Computer is based on the PDA as the MFC, fitted with onboard GPS and a serial communication port adapter for external interfaces.

In May 2010 the SA Army awarded Denel Land Systems Lyttleton a R214 million contract via state Arms procurement agency Armscor to supply the SA Army an unspecified number of M6 60mm long-rang mortars, ammunition, training material and associated paraphernalia. The order, worth R214 162 931, was placed on May 6 and is an extension of tender ESCW/2004/535. As such it may be a follow up of a previous order. The Ministry of Defence in September 2006 told Parliament that the SA army had in the midle of that year placed an order for 102 mortars for R101 million as part of Project Acrobat, to be delivery expected from 2009 to 2010. It is not clear if these deliveries have taken place.

The number ordered in 2006 was sufficient to equip 12 infantry battalions at a scale of eight tube per unit and leaving six tubes for training. The M6, with its long-range ammunition, can fire to 6180m and has the lethality range and lethal area substantially better than the M3 81mm mortar, regarded by many as no mean feat.

The Army acquired the type for its airborne (parachute and air assault) as well as motorised infantry, who will likely use it in place of the older M3 81mm mortar as it is lighter at 34kg (compared to the M3’s 42.8kg) to a greater range and effect. The M6 is, however, much heavier than the M1 60mm mortar with bipod (18.7kg) or the M4 patrol mortar (“patmor”) variant at 7.8kg. This, however, has a maximum range of just 2100m.