The US Army awarded a $12.9 million contract to Global Military Products (GMP) to integrate the Scorpion Light 81 mm Mobile Mortar Systems onto the Infantry Squad Vehicle–Utility (ISV-U). The resulting system platform will provide responsive forward indirect fire support to its new Mobile Brigade Combat Teams (MBCTs), which seek to maximise the speed and agility of the light infantry.
The next-generation Scorpion Light system provides a platform that accepts a standard mortar tube positioned in the bed of a carrier vehicle. It allows the vehicle to halt, automatically deploy the mortar into its firing position, lay, fire eight rounds and be on the move again in under two minutes. Its advanced fire control architecture further accelerates the sensor-to-shooter kill chain, enabling faster target acquisition, digital fire mission processing, and rapid engagement of multiple targets with reduced crew workload.
The contract was issued under the Department of Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC) Other Transaction Authority (OTA). The effort supports integrating U.S. Army digital fire control technologies and government-furnished M253 mortar barrels onto the Scorpion system, and refining that integration onto government-provided ISV-U platforms.
According to GMP, this contract culminates two years of collaboration through Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP) initiatives and Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) efforts. These have included hands-on soldier demonstrations and trials to refine, test, and incorporate direct soldier feedback into the development of the Scorpion Light Mobile Mortar System. GMP most recently supported the US 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in evaluating the ISV-based 81mm Scorpion Autonomous Engagement System during Exercise Balikatan 2026 in the Philippines. That system used contractor-provided fire controls. This effort will incorporate US Army controls and fires management systems.
This effort is expected to produce a refined design and a fully integrated, ISV-based 81 mm Scorpion Mobile Mortar System that can be fully certified and prepared to support a production decision. Notably, the US Marines awarded Global Military Products a US$4.9 million contract in February 2026 to purchase and evaluate the Scorpion Light 81 mm mobile mortar system.
The Scorpion is highly adaptable and can accommodate not only the 81mm calibre mortar but also the longer-range 120mm mortar. In addition, it has been demonstrated on a range of other light tactical vehicles including the Polaris 4 X 4 and 6 X 6 ATV, the HMMWV, Toyota Land Cruiser, G-Wagon, Flyer 72, Sherpa and light truck platforms.
by Stephen W. Miller
