In accordance with the combat training plan for 2020 approved by the Azerbaijani minister of Defense, live-fire training exercises are conducted with the Azerbaijani armed forces’ mortar battery crews using their Israeli-made Cardom Hatchet Recoil Mortar System.

Soltam System's Cardom "Hatchet" 120mm mortars in live-firing training (Picture source: Azerbaijani army)

The Cardom "Hatchet" is an Israeli 81mm/120mm Recoil Mortar System (RMS) manufactured by Soltam Systems. It is used by the US Army, the Israel Defence Forces, NATO countries, and others. The Cardom is an autonomous, computerized system for mounting on light and medium armored carriers. The system uses a new Computerized Integrated Navigation and Self Positioning and Aiming systems. Its modern Target Acquisition Devices together with a specially designed Recoiling Mortar System, attenuates the firing loads and enables mounting the systems on wheeled and tracked AFVs, or even soft-skinned vehicles such as trucks. The Cardom Aiming mechanisms are linked to state-of-the-art command, control and communication systems to achieve quick response automatic laying mode. The IDF delivered Cardom system takes target acquisition data that provides range, bearing, position and other data from an observation point and transmits it directly to the Cardom system; using electrical servo motors, the mortar barrel is then set at the exact traverse and elevation angles ready for firing.

The 120 mm Cardom has a firing rate of 16 rpm, followed by a 4 rpm sustained rate of fire. The Cardom Recoil Mortar System has been qualified for fielding with the 3rd US Army Stryker brigade and will be coupled to the US Army's M95 Mortar Fire Control System on the M1129 Mortar Carrier. So far over 320 mortar systems have been manufactured for the U.S. Army.

Soltam System's Cardom "Hatchet" 120mm mortars ready to fire (Picture source: Azerbaijani army )