A mortar aiming goniometer designed to support fire support units in France and abroad
The heavy mortar teams of the Dutch 11th Airmobile Brigade perfectly illustrate today’s key requirements for indirect fire support: mobility, responsiveness, accuracy and reliability in the field.
In mortar firing sequences, every phase matters. From deployment and weapon set-up to aiming and fire delivery, teams need to rely on robust, precise and easy-to-use equipment.
This is where Elynxo’s GP2M goniometer comes into its own.
Designed for mortars and artillery guns, the GP2M supports elevation and azimuth aiming phases, by day and by night, directly on the weapon system.
Heavy mortars: mobility, firepower and precision at the heart of fire support
120 mm mortars play a key role in modern fire support capabilities.
They allow deployed units to deliver indirect fire rapidly, while maintaining a high level of flexibility on the ground. For mobile forces, such as Dutch airmobile units, this capability is even more strategic: deploy fast, set up without delay and provide accurate support to troops in contact.
Mortar systems developed by leading defence players such as Thales demonstrate the relevance of this approach: combining firepower, reliability and operational efficiency in demanding environments.
To achieve this level of performance, aiming quality remains a decisive factor
Mortar aiming: a constant operational requirement
Indirect fire leaves no room for approximation.
In the field, mortar teams must deal with:
- reduced weapon set-up times,
- rapid changes of position,
- day and night visibility constraints,
- degraded operational environments,
- a constant requirement for angular accuracy.
In this context, aiming and adjustment instruments play a central role in the success of fire support missions.
Aiming accuracy directly impacts the effectiveness of the firing sequence, the fluidity of procedures and the unit’s ability to deliver reliable support to the manoeuvre.
GP2M: a mortar aiming goniometer designed for field requirements
The GP2M is a double-plate goniometer designed for 81 mm and 120 mm mortars, as well as artillery guns up to 155 mm.
Mounted directly on the weapon, it remains in place throughout the firing sequence and enables operators to aim in elevation and azimuth.
It provides mortar teams with :
- fast and accurate tube aiming,
- day and night operation thanks to its integrated lighting system,
- fine angle reading for fire adjustment,
- proven robustness against field mechanical constraints,
- ease of use to support smooth operational procedures.
Field-qualified for more than 2,500 rounds, the GP2M has been designed to maintain a high level of reliability in real operating conditions.
A French-made solution with international reach
Used by the French armed forces and several other countries, the GP2M is fully aligned with export and international cooperation dynamics.
Its use alongside 120 mm mortar systems illustrates Elynxo’s ability to support forces beyond national borders, both in training contexts and in demanding operational environments.
From France to allied units, the GP2M contributes to the accuracy, speed and reliability of indirect fire support.
It also reflects the know-how of the French defence industry: from major players such as Thales, designing recognized mortar systems, to specialized industrial SMEs like Elynxo, developing robust, practical equipment tailored to field realities.
📸 Photo credit: 1d_heavy_mortars
