The U.S. Marine Corps has signed a $4.9 million contract with Global Military Products to acquire the Scorpion Light mobile mortar system, which will undergo live-fire testing.
This project is part of an effort to modernize the Marine Corps’ indirect fire support capabilities and focuses on improving mobility and rapid operational capabilities in an expeditionary operational environment.
The system is mounted on the Polaris MRZR Alpha 6×6 vehicle and is designed according to the ‘shoot-and-scoot’ concept. This allows the crew to occupy a position, fire up to eight rounds, and then change location within two minutes. This is intended to reduce vulnerability to counter-battery attacks, especially in environments where sensors and drones can quickly detect launch points.
Scorpion Light also integrates an advanced digital fire control system, enabling rapid target acquisition and correction operations with minimal crew intervention. The vehicle can load up to 48 rounds of ammunition and supports a total payload of approximately 1.6 tons. It also maintains a high level of logistics commonality with platforms already in operation by the Marine Corps and Special Forces.
Another feature is the ability to transport inside the V-22 Osprey, which expands rapid deployment capabilities to remote areas or areas with limited infrastructure. Investment in lightweight, mobile, and transportable systems reflects the Marine Corps’ strategy to operate in small, distributed units, especially in coastal areas and contested island areas.
source: Defence Blog | Photo: LinkedIn – Global Military Products | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team
