2R2M mortar

The 2R2M (Rifled Recoiled Mounted Mortar) is a vehicle-mounted, rifled 120 mm heavy mortar produced by Thales of France. It is derived from the MO-120-RT towed mortar. The 2R2M is in service with 5 nations. The US Marine Corps field-tested a mortar system derived from the 2R2M in the early 2000's under the project names Dragon Fire and Dragon Fire II. More than just an adaptation of the 2R2M system to the USMC's LAV-25 chassis, this project aimed for the added option to lift the entire weapon assembly, including the semi-automated loading mechanism and the computerised fire control system, out of the carrier vehicle and put it on a carriage to be towed by a tractor vehicle such as a HMMWV. The USMC eventually dropped the Dragon Fire II project and instead opted for the baseline MO-120-RT mortar, which it called the M327 mortar, towed by a M1161 Growler, for their EFSS (Expeditionary Fire Support System). In December 2019, the MEPAC (Mortier Embarqué Pour l'Appui au Contact), an evolution of the 2R2M was selected by France and will equip a dedicated self-propelled mortar variant of the VBMR Griffon.