Spain places order for 84 81 mm EIMOS mortar systems

The Spanish government has placed an order with Rheinmetall for the delivery of 84 81 mm EIMOS (Expal Integrated MOrtar System) mortar systems.

According to a company announcement on 23 October 2024, the framework agreement has been concluded with the Spanish subsidiary Rheinmetall Expal Munitions and is worth around EUR 150 million. Maintenance and training were also covered in the contract.

The 81 mm EIMOS mortar systems are platform-based weapons that are to be used by the Spanish Army as well as the navy and air force, according to Rheinmetall. Under the UTEX programme, which was launched by the Spanish Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2017, the MoD has experimentally examined various tactical light vehicles as mortar carriers and ultimately opted for the EIMOS system.

In November 2020 Expal validated the 81 mm mortar system in the Dual-EIMOS variant and demonstrated it to representatives of the Armaments Directorate of the Spanish Ministry of Defence (DGAM), the Spanish Marine Corps, the Spanish Army and the Spanish Navy’s Logistics Office.

The system presented was a further developed version of the EIMOS mortar system, which has been in use by the Spanish Legion for some time and has been adapted to the requirements of amphibious combat. According to reports, the system was integrated onto the cargo bed of a VAMTAC ST5. This lightly protected 4×4 vehicle in the five-tonne class from Spanish manufacturer Urovesa offers the crew a Level 3 protection in accordance with STANAG 4569. However, the crew must leave the cabin and load the mortar by hand in order to fire it.

The systems that have now been ordered are to be delivered to the Spanish armed forces over a period of three years, starting this year.