Elbit Systems said it will deliver mortar systems to an unnamed European customer under a $53 million contract award.
The deal requires the Israeli firm to deliver the Crossbow unmanned turreted 120 mm soft recoil mortar systems to General Dynamics European Land Systems for installation on the client’s Pandur 6×6 APC wheeled armored vehicle.
Work under the agreement will be performed over the next six years, the company said.
Elbit Systems Land General Manager Yehuda Vered noted that the deal represents the first order for the Crossbow system, which was introduced in London in 2023.
“The turreted mortar, with its precise guided round, reaffirms our commitment to developing and providing innovative and advanced land systems as solutions to the evolving needs of the modern battlefield,” Vered said.
Crossbow boasts a 360-degree capability and a maximum firing range of 10 km. It can launch the initial round within 30 seconds and deploy up to 10 rounds per minute.
The weapon system provides a high rate of protection and survivability for the mortar operator’s crew, according to Elbit.
Defense Blog reported that Austria is the likely recipient of the turreted mortar system. GDELS-Steyr announced in February that the Austrian Ministry of Defence has ordered a fourth batch of Pandur 6×6 Evolutions to add to its wheeled armed vehicles fleet.