The Dragon Fire II automated 120mm mortar weapon system. (U.S. Military photo)
November 02, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Dragon Fire II (DF II) is an automated 120mm mortar weapon system that has the potential to revolutionize indirect fire support. Due to its high degree of automation, quick response time, lethality, and mobility the DF II will provide the maneuver commander capabilities never before realized. The DF II is a 120mm mortar weapon system program sponsored by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. The program is managed by the Office of the Product Manager for Mortars Systems and is being designed and developed at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ by the Armament Engineering Technology Center.
The Dragon Fire II is a highly automated indirect fire support weapon system. The DF II integrates the automated 120mm 2R2M (Recoiling Rifled Mounted Mortar) mortar, developed and produced by Thomson Daimler-Benz Aerospace (TDA) Armements SAS, a modified M95 Mortar Fire Control System, adapted for US Marine Corps use including incorporation of the NATO Ballistic Kernel (NABK), M93 Muzzle Velocimeter, PLGR Global Positioning System, integral digital communications via AFATDS, and automated aiming and pointing software into a highly responsive, extremely accurate weapon system. The system’s high degree of automation reduces the manpower required to operate the system and decreases the weapon’s response time to less than 30 seconds. The system’s pointing accuracy is improved to less than 3 mils, with the potential of being as low as 1 mil. The uniqueness of this system is the integration of these capabilities into one automated system capable of providing effective, timely and accurate fire support to maneuver and armored units.
The DF II uses a complete family of rifled mortar ammunition (HE, Smoke, Illumination, IR Illumination, Practice and Rocket Assisted) , as well as being capable of firing US smoothbore ammunition, providing the capability of engaging targets out to 8,200m (unassisted) and 13,000m (rocket assisted). The MFCS was modified to meet the operational requirements of the U.S. Marines Corps. Weapon control software and electric actuators developed by GD-OTS were added to allow for automated gun aiming and pointing. The system is capable of being towed by the HMMWV, 2 1/2 ton Medium Tactical Vehicle and the Interim Fast Attack Vehicle and can be internally transported by the MV-22 and the CH-53 helicopter. The DF II digitally communicates with the Forward Observer (FO) and/or the Fire Direction Center (FDC) using AFATDS over SINGARS radios. The system uses the NATO ballistic kernel (NABK) to generate a ballistic solution. The NABK is being updated to include all US 120mm smooth bore ammunition and the French 120mm rifled ammunition both of which can be fired from the DF II.
The DF II functions as follows: A fire mission is sent digitally to the DF II by the FO or the FDC. Upon receiving the fire mission the system calculates the ballistic solution, aims and points the weapon, loads a round using a semi automatic loading device (SALD), and fires a round on target. The SALD must be manually reloaded after each round in fired. The system is capable of firing up to 10 rounds/min. for one minute and 4 rounds /min. thereafter.
The DF II offers many advantages over existing mortar systems, several of which are listed below:
Low profile (approximately 35 inches) increasing system survivability Light weight and automated systems reduce manpower requirements for emplacement, displacement and operation Remote operation (via wireless link) allow most crew members to remain under cover System accuracy (less than 3 mils) Improved response time (less than 30 sec.).
The system is being specifically designed for modularity to support conventional and emerging maneuver missions. The DF II is capable of being ground emplaced or mounted in and fired from the back of a modified Light Armored Vehicle (LAV). This gives the system great flexibility, allowing it to keep pace with mechanized forces providing accurate and responsive organic indirect fire support. Whether employed in the ground mounted or mobile configuration, the DF II is capable of conducting independent fire missions, or several systems can be linked together to provide mass fires on one target. Each weapon is capable of acting as the FDC, controlling up to 18 other systems making the system versatile and providing responsive indirect fire support.
The DF II’s accuracy is largely due to the following factors:
The use of spin stabilized ammunition Platform stability Improved fire control system, i.e. MFCS with the NABK Incorporation of MET data and lot to lot muzzle velocity variations in the ballistic solution Highly accurate traverse and elevation servo motors A highly precise inertial measurement unit
The advancements made in Dragon Fire II will greatly advance the state of the art in indirect fire support systems in general, and mortar systems specifically. These advancements can be applied to indirect fire systems across the board, as well as many direct fire systems, and have the potential to significantly improve the accuracy, responsiveness, and lethality of weapon systems.