AGRAB (Scorpion) 120 mm Mobile Mortar System (United Arab Emirates), Self-propelled mortar systems

Development
Development of the AGRAB (Scorpion) 120 mm Mobile Mortar System (MMS) commenced early in 2006 by the International Golden Group with the first prototype system completed in mid-2006.Funding for development was provided by the International Golden Group in anticipation of future operational requirements for a weapon system of this type in the Gulf Area.By early 2007 AGRAB 120 mm MMS had undergone extensive firepower and mobility trials with over 800 120 mm mortar bombs being fired.In February 2007 the United Arab Emirates awarded the International Golden Group a contract worth AED390 million covering the supply of 48 production AGRAB, 120 mm MMS systems plus spare parts and logistics support.Integration of production systems will take placed in the United Arab Emirates and it is expected that first production systems will be delivered in 2008/2009.

Description
AGRAB 120 mm MMS consists of the combat proven BAE Systems OMC RG-31 Mk 5 (4 × 4) mine protected vehicle (MPV) fitted with a new three-person fully enclosed cab. Full details of this platform are provided in a separate entry.The crew can rapidly enter the vehicle using a door in either side of the cab which is provided with a bulletproof window in its upper part. There is also a door in the cab rear to provide access to the 120 mm mortar.According to BAE Systems OMC, the RG-31 used for this application has the following levels of protection:Engine compartment: STANAG (4569A) Level 1Crew compartment: STANAG (4569A) Level 2Horizontal at 30 m:7.62 × 51 mm NATO ball5.56 × 45 mm NATO ball7.62 × 39 mm APIMine protection:Double anti-tank mine under any wheel (14 kg) Single anti-tank mine under hull (7 kg) Mounted to the rear of the chassis is the Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) 120 mm Super Rapid Advanced Mortar System (SRAMS) which has already been tested on a wide range of tracked and wheeled platforms. Details of this are given in a separate entry.When SRAMS is installed on a lighter chassis, a spade is normally lowered to the ground but as the RG-31 Mk 5 chassis is so stable this is not required for this application. It has a recoil force of less than 26 tonnes.For this application the 120 mm SRAMS fires to the rear and a total of 46 120 mm Rheinmetall Denel

The complete article appears in the following publication:
Publication Title Jane's Armour and Artillery
Publication date Jan 26, 2009
Section Self-propelled mortar systems
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