Reflecting the Pakistani military’s broader aims to further digitize and network its warfighting capabilities, Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) has begun promoting its new Advanced Infantry Mortar System (AIMS), a self-propelled mortar launching platform.
Developed in collaboration with the private Pakistani defence company Comcept, the AIMS provides a wide range of capabilities centered on the goals of rapid deployability and precision-targeting.
The AIMS offers automated mortar laying, multi-caliber support for 81 mm and 120 mm shells, an integrated ammunition carrier, sustained fire capability, a digital fire control system (DFCS), and network-connected systems, such as command-and-control (C2) integration.
While presented with a lightly armoured pick-up truck, HIT stressed that the AIMS can be configured into a range of 4×4 vehicle options, including heavier and better-protected platforms. Without carrying the mortar ammunition, the AMIS system weighs 700 kg.
The AIMS is likely the outcome of a requirement dating back to 2016 when Pakistan reportedly earmarked up to $1.5 billion USD for a new self-propelled mortar system. It is unclear if the Pakistan Army (PA) is still planning to invest as much in such a system, but commissioning a homegrown program implies that AIMS was borne from a substantial PA requirement, i.e., with enough scale to justify a local program.
Thus, the capability goals of the AIMS – i.e., the rapid deployability and precision-targeting – likely weigh more into the requirements of the PA rather than solely market trends.
Reference Link:- https://quwa.org/pakistan-army-news/pakistan-promotes-new-network-enabled-mortar-carrier/;