Reflecting the Pakistani military’s broader aims to further digitize and network its warfighting capabilities, Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) has begun promoting its new Advanced Infantry Mortar System (AIMS), a self-propelled mortar launching platform.
Developed in collaboration with the private Pakistani defence company Comcept, the AIMS provides a wide range of capabilities centered on the goals of rapid deployability and precision-targeting.
The AIMS offers automated mortar laying, multi-caliber support for 81 mm and 120 mm shells, integrated ammunition carrier, sustained fire capability, digital fire control system (DFCS) and network-connected systems, such as command-and-control (C2) integration.
While presented with a lightly armoured pick-up truck, HIT stressed that the AIMS can be configured into a range of 4×4 vehicle options, including heavier and better protected platforms. Without carrying the mortar ammunition, the AMIS system weighs 700 kg.
The AIMS is likely the outcome of a requirement dating back to 2016 when Pakistan reportedly earmarked up to $1.5 billion USD for a new self-propelled mortar system. It is unclear if the Pakistan Army (PA) is still planning to invest as much in such a system, but commissioning a homegrown program implies that AIMS was borne from a substantial PA requirement, i.e., with enough scale to justify a local program.
Thus, the capability goals of the AIMS – i.e., the rapid deployability and precision-targeting – likely weigh more into the requirements of the PA rather than solely market trends.
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That said, the AIMS promises many operational benefits, including a more compact logistics footprint via one platform for both carrying and firing ammunition, rapid – but precise – targeting through automation at both the hardware and software levels (using the DFCS), versatility through both 81 mm and 120 mm caliber support, and survivability via ‘shoot-and-scoot’ capabilities.
In terms of performance, the AIMS can fire up to a range of 6,500 m with 120 mm mortars and 4,500 m with 81 mm shells. AIMS requires less than 40 seconds to position, 10 seconds to set a new target, and 20 seconds to pack-up and start relocating to another area.
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