State tests of the MP-120 mortar developed by the Ukrainian Armored Vehicles company have been completed at one of the Ukrainian training grounds. The product is designed to replace the Hammer mortar in the troops, whose defects led to the rupture of the barrel. The end of the tests is reported by Defense Express.
Vladimir Kovtun, a test engineer of the Ukrainian Armored Vehicles, noted that the new mortar received a number of design differences from the mortars used in the troops. The MP-120 is equipped with a new-shaped base plate and a foreign-made sight with illuminated scales, and the survivability of the mortar was increased due to a new production technology, the newspaper writes.
The developers claim that the new mortar has better accuracy and accuracy of shooting compared to its predecessors. It is noteworthy that the designers paid special attention to the fuse against double charging. This device makes it impossible to load the second mine, which can lead to the rupture of the projectile in the barrel.
The new fuse has implemented solutions that are designed to prevent the device from being removed by calculations. Previously, the fuses were removed because of their imperfections, the authors emphasize.
The test engineer of the" Ukrainian Armored Vehicles " noted that during the tests, the resource of the mortar barrel of 5,000 rounds was confirmed.
In 2015, the Kiev enterprise "Mayak Plant" developed the M-120-15 "Hammer"mortar. The new development was supposed to replace the Soviet 2B11 mortar. In 2018, it became known about defects in the design of the Ukrainian mortar, which led to the rupture of the barrel and the death of people. Later, experts found out that the trunks of the "Hammers" are made of mild steel.
Daniil Irinin