A mortar firing goniometer designed for extreme fire support operations
During the multinational exercise Cold Response 2026, conducted in Finnish Laplan, the GP2M mortar firing goniometer developed by Elynxo demonstrated its ability to support mortar teams operating in a highly demanding Arctic environment.
Integrated into live fire support operations, the GP2M contributes directly to rapid deployment, accurate mortar alignment, and reliable firing solutions, even in extreme cold, snow-covered terrain, and degraded operating conditions.
Cold Response 2026: mortar fire support at the core of Arctic maneuver warfare
As part of this major NATO exercise, the 27e Bataillon de chasseurs alpins was deployed within the ARCTIC TIGER battlegroup, showcasing the ability of French mountain troops to maneuver and fight in severe Arctic conditions.
Fire support was provided by 120 mm mortars from the 93e régiment d’artillerie de montagne.
Forward reconnaissance and intelligence — including drone-based target acquisition — enabled precise target designation before fires were delivered at range, supporting the advance of maneuver units and shaping the battlefield in depth.
Arctic operations: critical requirements for mortar alignment and fire control
Operating in Arctic conditions imposes specific and severe constraints:
- extreme low temperatures,
- frozen or unstable ground,
- complex handling while wearing cold-weather equipment,
- reduced margins for error during mortar alignment.
In such environments, speed of deployment, precision of pointing, and equipment reliability are decisive factors for mission success.
GP2M: a mortar firing goniometer adapted to Arctic and extreme environments
The GP2M is designed to facilitate the employment of 81 mm and 120 mm mortars, including in environments where climatic and mechanical constraints significantly degrade standard equipment performance.
It provides mortar teams with:
- fast and accurate mortar alignment,
- clear and reliable angle readings for optimal fire adjustment,
- rugged construction suited to Arctic climates and high mechanical stress,
- improved operational flow during deployment and re-articulation phases.
These capabilities allow fire support elements to maintain a high level of operational effectiveness, even under the most demanding conditions.
Ensuring effective fire support, regardless of terrain and climate
The engagement of French forces during Cold Response 2026 reinforces a fundamental operational principle:
the effectiveness of fire support depends as much on equipment reliability as on training.
Training in extreme cold today ensures accurate, responsive, and dependable indirect fires tomorrow — across all theaters of operation and environmental conditions.
📸 Photo credit: État-major des armées
