A multi-barrel mortar launcher with an array of barrels and a fire control mechanism, where the array is configured to fire one mortar round from each barrel with substantially the same time-on-target in an impact area having an array of blast radii corresponding to the array of barrels.

A launcher for launching a projectile includes a launch piston for engaging and driving the projectile from the launcher and a launch brake that constrains the piston to enable separation of the piston from the projectile. The launch brake is configured to have minimal to no effect on projectile exit velocity and exit trajectory from the launcher. The launch brake is also configured to reduce the velocity of the launch piston via coupling of the masses of the launch piston and the launch brake. The coupling allows, separation of the projectile from the launch piston and reduces or prevents a negative effect on stabilization of the projectile upon exit from the launcher.

A launcher for launching a projectile includes a launch piston for engaging and driving the projectile from the launcher and a launch brake that constrains the piston to enable separation of the piston from the projectile. The launch brake is configured to have minimal to no effect on projectile exit velocity and exit trajectory from the launcher. The launch brake is also configured to reduce the velocity of the launch piston via coupling of the masses of the launch piston and the launch brake. The coupling allows, separation of the projectile from the launch piston and reduces or prevents a negative effect on stabilization of the projectile upon exit from the launcher.

Provided are a combined loading device and method. The combined loading device includes a first housing in which a shell is inserted; a second housing in which a charge is inserted, the second housing being connected to the first housing; a first support located in the first housing and configured to allow the shell or the charge to be seated thereon and linearly moved; and a driving unit located inside the first housing, connected to the first support, and configured to move the first support on which the shell is seated.

An external firing mechanism for a muzzle loaded mortar system incorporates a drop fire mode, a lever fire mode and a safe mode. The firing mechanism is easy to assemble or replace and does not require an adjustment procedure when mounting to the mortar system. The firing mechanism utilizes bearing balls as a tripping device which transfers potential energy in a compressed spring to kinetic energy of a firing pin oriented orthogonal to that spring.

An external firing mechanism for a muzzle loaded mortar system incorporates a drop fire mode, a lever fire mode and a safe mode. The firing mechanism is easy to assemble or replace and does not require an adjustment procedure when mounting to the mortar system. The firing mechanism utilizes bearing balls as a tripping device which transfers potential energy in a compressed spring to kinetic energy of a firing pin oriented orthogonal to that spring.

An obturator ring (4) for a mortar round (2) is proposed where the geometry of the ring (4) is modified by its sliding and striking stationary anvil (18) when the round (2) is placed in the muzzle-loaded mortar's barrel (6) and reaches its bottom. The initial ring (4) geometry does not impede round's travel down the barrel (6) while its modified geometry provides a gas seal between the round (2) and the barrel (6) wall.

Several embodiments featuring free-rotating (4), splined non-rotational (4a) and stationary separated (12a-14a) designs are presented.

The ring works with both smoothbore and rifled mortar barrels and in several embodiments imparts rotation to the round (2) if used in a rifled barrel (6).

An optimized muzzle-loaded mortar barrel (6) operating in cooperation with rounds equipped with the obturator ring of instant invention is also presented, containing rifled (6a) and smoothbore (6b) sections.

An obturator ring (4) for a mortar round (2) is proposed where the geometry of the ring (4) is modified by its sliding and striking stationary anvil (18) when the round (2) is placed in the muzzle-loaded mortar's barrel (6) and reaches its bottom. The initial ring (4) geometry does not impede round's travel down the barrel (6) while its modified geometry provides a gas seal between the round (2) and the barrel (6) wall.

Several embodiments featuring free-rotating (4), splined non-rotational (4a) and stationary separated (12a-14a) designs are presented.

The ring works with both smoothbore and rifled mortar barrels and in several embodiments imparts rotation to the round (2) if used in a rifled barrel (6).

An optimized muzzle-loaded mortar barrel (6) operating in cooperation with rounds equipped with the obturator ring of instant invention is also presented, containing rifled (6a) and smoothbore (6b) sections.

A magazine for storing and launching countermeasures arranged in cartridges, comprising a plurality of longitudinal cartridge cases forming the magazine, where each cartridge case comprises side walls and a front opening and a centre axis, where the magazine is adapted to be mounted on an aircraft, where the side walls of two adjacent cartridge cases are arranged to each other in a slidable manner in a longitudinal direction, and where the magazine comprises a tilting means adapted to tilt the cartridge cases, such that the openings of the cartridge cases can be directed in a selected direction. The advantage of the invention is that a countermeasure can be directed in a desired angle before it is launched.

A dual and omnidirectional mortar base plate to be used in mortar carrier vehicles comprising a bottom base plate coupled to a mortar and a top base plate; wherein the dual base plate is adapted to move along a movement path from a resting position, associated with a position for movement of the vehicle, towards a work position associated with a firing position for the mortar, and vice versa. Likewise the dual base plate has elements for fast stowage in the mortar carrier vehicle.

The dual base plate consists of a bottom base plate, a top base plate, and connection and repositioning elements between the two to facilitate the transfer of the forces generated by said firing to the ground, isolating the mortar carrier vehicle from the forces generated by firing the mortar. Truncated cone shaped hoppers allow the bottom plate to move in any direction in which the mortar is fired.