Cardom Explained

The Cardom (stands for Computerized Autonomous Recoil Rapid Deployed Outrange Mortar)^[1] is an Israeli 81 mm/120 mm recoil mortar system (RMS), manufactured by Soltam Systems. It is used by the United States Army, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), NATO countries, and others. The Cardom is an autonomous, computerized system for mounting on light and medium armored carriers. The system provides accurate and effective fire support.

Overview

The system uses a new computerized integrated navigation and self-positioning and aiming systems. Its modern target acquisition devices, together with a specially designed recoiling mortar system, attenuate the firing loads and enables mounting the systems on wheeled and tracked armoured fighting vehicles, or even soft-skinned vehicles such as trucks. The system's aiming mechanisms are linked to state-of-the-art command, control and communication systems, to achieve quick response automatic laying mode. The Cardom system takes target-acquisition data including range, bearing and position from an observation point and transmits it directly to the Cardom system. Using electrical servo motors, the mortar barrel is then set at the exact traverse and elevation angles to fire upon the target. The 120 mm Cardom has a burst rate of 16 rpm, followed by a 4 rpm sustained rate of fire.

Foreign Use

The Cardom recoil mortar system has been qualified for fielding with the 3rd US Army Stryker brigade, and will be coupled with the M95 mortar's fire control system on the M1129 mortar carrier. So far, over 320 mortar systems have been manufactured for the U.S. Army.

Performance

250px|right|thumb|Cardom on a US M1129 mortar carrier in operation in Iraq

• Range: 7,000-8,000 meters
• Calibre: 120/81mm smoothbore and rifled
• Max rate of fire: 16 rounds per minute
• Traverse (deg): 360
• Shoot of first round: less than 30 sec
• Crew: 2-4 dependent on carrier
• Dual mode: mounted and dismounted

Operators

• Azerbaijani Land Forces^{[2] [3]}

• Royal Bahraini Army special forces (purchased to Spain, fitted on the URO VAMTAC) ^[4]

• Chilean Army^[5]

• Cameroon Army^[2]

Denmark

• Royal Danish Army (also known as M/10 or Cardom 10)^[6]

• Israeli Army^{[7] [8]}

• Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan^[2]

• Portuguese Army^[2]

• Philippine Army^[9]

• Spanish Army^[10]

• Royal Thai Army^[11]

• Uganda Army^[2]

• United States Army^[2]

• Zambian Army^[12]

Further reading

• Web site: SOLTAM 120 mm Mortar - Mortar systems . elbitsystems.com . 2013 . 22 September 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130928001204/http://62.0.44.103/Elbitmain/files/120mm_Mortars.pdf . 28 September 2013 .
• Web site: SOLTAM 81 mm Mortar - Mortar systems . elbitsystems.com . 2013 . 22 September 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130928001209/http://62.0.44.103/Elbitmain/files/81mm_Mortars.pdf . 28 September 2013 .
• Web site: Mortar systems. elbitsystems.com . 2013 . 22 September 2013.

External links

• Cardom mortar system on defense-update.com

Video

• youtube video of Cardom system

Notes and References

1. Book: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate - Zionist Armored Personnel Carriers . 19 . ar . ar: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ناقلات الجند الصهيونية . In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate - Zionist Armored Personnel Carriers . November 15, 2024 . https://archive.org/details/20240825_20240825_2048/page/n19/mode/2up?q=Cardom . August 25, 2024 . live . Archive.org.
2. Mortars on the move. Armada International. August 3, 2015. November 20, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160423004238/http://armadainternational.com/Article/mortars-on-the-move.html. April 23, 2016. dead.
3. Book: . COMPLIANCE WITH THE TREATY ON CONVENTIONAL ARMED FORCES IN EUROPE Condition (5) (C) Report . January 2014 . United States Department of State . Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance . 4 . November 15, 2024 . https://archive.org/details/nsia-30111230109015/page/n5/mode/2up . August 2, 2018 . live.
4. Web site: 2018-05-11 . EIMOS CARDOM 81mm gallery Weapons Parade EIMOS CARDOM. . 2023-06-15 . Weapons Parade . es.
5. https://www.defensa.com/africa-asia-pacifico/sistemas-artilleria-cardom-para-israel
6. Web site: Tung mortér - Cardom 10 . Forsvaret (The Danish Defence) . 11 May 2022 .
7. News: Elbit Systems to supply Israeli Army with Cardom mortar systems for approximately $40 million. Army Recognition. September 20, 2011. September 23, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20170109112720/http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2011_news_defense_army_military_industry/elbit_systems_to_supply_israeli_army_with_cardom_mortar_systems_for_approximately_$40_million_200911.html. January 9, 2017. live.
8. News: Elbit Systems to supply Israeli Ministry of Defense with Cardom 120mm mortar artillery. Army Recognition. January 7, 2013. January 9, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130122035445/http://www.armyrecognition.com/january_2013_army_military_defense_industry_news/elbit_systems_to_supply_israeli_ministry_of_defense_with_cardom_120mm_mortar_artillery_0701132.html. January 22, 2013. live.
9. Web site: Report: Elbit Systems to Upgrade M113 APCs for Philippine Army. 31 July 2017.
10. News: Elbit Systems won contract to supply CARDOM 81 mm autonomous recoil mortar for Spanish Army. Army Recognition. October 31, 2011. December 7, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111203092501/http://www.armyrecognition.com/october_2011_news_defense_army_military_industry/elbit_systems_won_contract_to_supply_cardom_81_mm_autonomous_recoil_mortar_for_spanish_army_3110113.html. December 3, 2011. live.
11. Web site: Jane - Defense & Security 2022: Royal Thai Army expands artillery production.
12. Web site: Zambian military parades new equipment.