The Huta Stalowa Wola Military Production Centre (CPW HSW) is showing its latest 120 mm MAHSW (Automatic Mortar from Huta Stalowa Wola) for the first time at MSPO 2008. Assembly of a complete MAHSW model ended in August, and in-house functional tests were successfully performed, too.
The MAHSW underwent its first test firing on 8 July 2008, at the Dynamic Testing Centre of the Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU) in Stalowa Wola.
The mortar is being developed at CPW HSW as part of a research and development project which also involves elements of a target identification and artillery fire control system and logistics components. The aim is to create a company 120 mm firing module of self-propelled mortars, set on a wheeled chassis (Rosomak) or a track undercarriage, known as the Rak.
This programme is being partially funded by the Ministry of Scientific Research and Information Technology. An agreement with the Ministry of National Defence's Armament Policy Department on carrying out a project based on the Rak, but more closely defined in accordance with the needs of the Land Forces, should be finalized soon as well. The MAHSW is being designed as a mortar turret system featuring an automatic single-barrel mortar with breechblock. It will be ready for installation on a track or wheeled undercarriage. The first vision of the MAHSW's precursor on a Ryś chassis was even presented at MSPO 2006.
The MAHSW will be able to fire straight ahead (minimum quadrant angle - 3°, maximum +80°), with 500 m minimum range and 8-12 km maximum range (for special ammunition). The mortar would be operated by 3-4 soldiers (2 in the turret). The unit of fire carried by the vehicle would be 60 mortar mines, 20 of them in the turret magazine. The mortar's full autonomy is to be provided by a ballistic computer, a hybrid navigation system (inertial platform, GPS signal, odometer), and a Fonet communication management system (possibly in the improved Fonet-BMS version with battlefield management system, with the option of presenting the tactical situation on a digital map and automatic co-operation with the higher command and fire control system) with RRC-9311AP radio station (plus possibly a short wave radio station). The rotation and lift mechanisms would be electrically controlled (manually in cases of failure).
The prototype of the final version complying with the requirements of the Land Forces is to be ready in 2009. One of the potential carriers for the mortar is the Rosomak personnel carrier, as the MAHSW is meant as a possible domestic alternative to the twin-barrel AMOS mortar proposed by Patria, or to its unmanned single-barrel version, the NEMO.
The Land Forces have been planning for some time to equip support companies with self-propelled 120 mm automatic mortars. Theoretically by 2012, 8 support companies at leading land force brigades (12. BZ, 17. BZ, 21. BSP, 10. BKPanc) should have at least 32 such vehicles - assuming 4 barrels per company (this is probable in view of the costs but also increased effectiveness). The first of these would likely be fitted on the chassis of a wheeled armoured personnel carrier. By 2020 the Land Forces should have another 60 self-propelled mortars for 14 support companies at the remaining mechanized and armoured brigades. Here, experts say the optimum solution would be to buy a track undercarriage version as well.
Alternatives to the MAHSW already exist, to mention the Finnish AMOS (much more expensive) and NEMO, made by Patria and offered for fitting on vehicles from the Patria AMV 8x8 family (Rosomak) and on track platforms. The NEMO is also being shown at MSPO 2008, at Patria's stand.