IAV 2023: Elbit presents Crossbow turreted mortar

Elbit presented the Crossbow 120 mm turreted mortar system at IAV 2023. (Elbit Systems)

Elbit Systems presented the Crossbow 120 mm turreted mortar at Defence IQ's International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2023 conference being held in London from 23 to 26 January.

The weapon can be installed in a mission module with minimal protrusion, can be easily operated by a single crew member, and is fuzed for fully automatic operation, according to Elbit.

It can fire the company's range of mortar rounds, including those with an extended range and precision guidance. It has a range of 10 km and a rate of fire exceeding 12 rds/min, achieving 16 rounds for the first minute, an Elbit representative told Janes on 23 January. Crossbow is designed to be fired on the move and to shoot and scoot with a multiple round simultaneous impact (MRSI) capability.

A second Elbit representative said it was developed over the last three years based on Elbit's experience in ammunition, fuzes, fire control, and command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) integration. It is scheduled to enter service in 2024 with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which financed its development.

The IDF will receive dozens of Crossbows installed in Oshkosh Defense's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV). At IAV 2023, Elbit showed an artist's impression of Crossbow mounted on a Boxer armoured vehicle.

Elbit is marketing the Crossbow to NATO countries and partners, including for Czech CV90 tracked armoured vehicles, Austrian Pandurs, and US Stryker wheeled armoured vehicles.