Israeli company Elbit Systems Ltd. announced on July 29, 2024, that it had secured a contract worth approximately $190 million to supply its laser and GPS-guided Iron Sting mortar munitions to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. This contract, to be executed over the next two years, represents a significant advancement in the precision and effectiveness of Israel’s military capabilities.
The Iron Sting is an advanced precision-guided mortar munition designed for launch from a 120mm mortar system. This cutting-edge munition uses both GPS and laser guidance technologies to accurately target and destroy objectives up to 10 kilometers away. It is equipped with a multi-mode fuze that operates in Point Detonation (PD), Point Detonation Delay (PDD), and Proximity Sensor (PRX) modes.
The efficient loading time of approximately 15 seconds makes the Iron Sting highly effective in combat situations. It can be mounted on vehicles such as the M113 and Humvee, seamlessly integrating with their systems to quickly deploy and engage targets using GPS and laser guidance.
The deployment of Iron Sting is particularly relevant as modern military operations often take place in urban settings where minimizing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage is crucial. In recent operations, the Iron Sting has been effectively used by IDF special forces and other units, notably in the Khan Younis region of Gaza, to target Hamas rocket launchers and weapons storage facilities. Its rapid deployment and precision capabilities have proven valuable in the urban combat scenarios typical of the conflict.