The United States 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.
The initiative is part of the process of modernizing the corps’ indirect fire support capabilities, with a focus on greater mobility and rapidity of deployment in expeditionary scenarios.
Installed on the Polaris MRZR Alpha 6×6 vehicle, the system was designed according to the “shoot-and-scoot” concept, allowing the crew to take position, fire up to eight shots and change location in less than two minutes. The goal is to reduce vulnerability to counter-battery attacks, especially in environments where sensors and drones quickly identify the source of the hits.
The Scorpion Light also integrates an advanced digital fire control system, capable of accelerating target acquisition and correction with minimal crew intervention. The vehicle can carry up to 48 rounds of ammunition and supports a total load of approximately 1.6 tons, maintaining a high degree of logistical commonality with platforms already used by Marines and Special Forces.
Another distinctive element is the possibility of internal transport on board the V-22 Osprey, which expands the capacity for rapid insertion in remote areas or with limited infrastructure. The investment in lightweight, mobile, transportable systems reflects the Marine Corps’ strategy of operating in small, distributed formations, particularly in coastal regions and contested island chains.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: LinkedIn – Global Military Products | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
