Patria and General Dynamics UK unveil new Ajax NEMO 120mm self-propelled mortar for armoured units.

At the International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) Conference in Farnborough, General Dynamics Land Systems UK and Patria unveiled a self-propelled mortar variant of the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle equipped with the Patria NEMO 120 mm mortar system.

On January 20, 2026, General Dynamics Land Systems UK and Patria presented an Ajax armoured fighting vehicle variant configured as a self-propelled mortar carrier equipped with the Patria NEMO 120 mm turret at the International Armoured Vehicles Conference in Farnborough. The concept demonstrates the integration of a turreted, under-armour 120 mm mortar system onto the tracked Ajax platform to provide protected indirect and direct fire support for armoured units.
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The Ajax NEMO is a tracked armoured fighting vehicle built on the Ajax chassis and fitted with a turreted, remote-controlled Patria NEMO 120 mm mortar, created to deliver indirect fire support and limited direct fire while moving. (Picture source: X/Jon Hawkes)

Alongside the Ajax-based concept, the Patria NEMO system continues to be evaluated in the United Kingdom in the context of future force structure and vehicle replacement plans. The British Army is assessing the NEMO 120 mm turret for integration on the Patria 6x6 Common Armoured Vehicle System under the Land Mobility Programme, which targets the replacement of legacy fleets such as the FV432. Earlier planning centred on installing NEMO on the ARTEC Boxer 8x8, with an estimated requirement of roughly 80 vehicles, while the 6x6 option is considered a lower-cost solution with potential commonality with German procurement. Within this arrangement, Patria leads system design and development, while Babcock is responsible for the build solution and long-term support aligned with national industrial requirements.

Patria’s NEMO 120 mm turreted mortar system was created in Finland following a design phase from about 2005 to 2008 that sought to deliver a lighter, single-barrel alternative to heavier twin-barrel mortar turrets such as the AMOS system. The NEMO (NEw MOrtar) is a remote-controlled, single-barrel 120 mm smoothbore mortar with an automatic loading mechanism and hydro-pneumatic recoil suspension, based on Finnish experience with 120 mm mortars since the 1990s. Its barrel measures 3,000 mm in length with traverse through 360 degrees and elevation from -3 degrees to +85 degrees, providing both indirect and direct fire capability from within an armoured turret module. The turret concept also evolved into land, naval, and containerised versions that can be used for static or mobile fire support roles.

The Patria NEMO turret weighs approximately 1,900 kg and is mounted on a host vehicle’s structural frame with the mortar loaded and fired from within its armoured hull. Ammunition carried aboard vehicle installations ranges from about 50 to 60 rounds of 120 mm smoothbore mortar ammunition, including options for guided or smart munitions, while secondary armament can include an integrated remote weapon station and smoke grenade launchers. The NEMO’s rate of fire could reach up to 10 rounds per minute in short bursts with a sustained rate of around six rounds per minute, and it can commence firing in under 30 seconds after stopping. Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) missions can be executed with as many as five or six projectiles converging on a point target, indirect fire ranges exceed 10 km, depending on the ammunition type selected, while the effective direct fire reaches roughly 1,000 m. Fire control is integrated with stabilized laying that supports engagements while on the move, and electronic network interfaces enable tactical data connectivity for coordinated fire missions.

The modularity of the NEMO system has enabled its integration on a wide range of platforms, such as the Patria AMV 8×8 and the Patria 6x6 (XA-300). In naval use, the Finnish mortar system was mounted on Jurmo-class landing craft by the Finnish Navy and tested on CB90-class fast assault craft. German procurement plans include ordering 69 NEMO turrets for installation on medium mortar carriers, Hungary selected it for its Rheinmetall Lynx infantry fighting vehicles, and the United States Army conducted trials of a Patria NEMO mortar turret on its Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), although future procurement decisions by the US remain pending. These installations reflect the system’s adaptability to tracked, wheeled, and containerised platforms across land and maritime domains, with each integration tailored to the vehicle's internal volume, ammunition handling arrangements, and mission profiles.

For its part, the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle originates from the UK’s Specialist Vehicle programme, later renamed Ajax, to replace the British Army’s CVR(T) family of vehicles. Development work adapted the ASCOD 2 vehicle to UK requirements, for a length of approximately 7.62 m, a width of 3.35 m, and a height of 3 m, for a weight of approximately 38 tonnes. Propulsion comprises an MTU Friedrichshafen V8 diesel engine rated at roughly 600 kW with a six-speed transmission, enabling a maximum road speed of 70 km/h. Orders span 589 vehicles across multiple roles, and initial vehicles were delivered beginning in 2025 after repeated slippages from earlier target dates in the late 2010s and early 2020s. The Ajax armoured fighting vehicle family consists of six variants built on a common chassis.

The Ajax, armed with a turreted 40 mm cannon, is designed for forward reconnaissance and strike roles. The Ares functions as an armoured personnel carrier and reconnaissance support vehicle with an internal space reconfigured to transport specialist troops and their kit. The Athena, a command and control vehicle, is outfitted with additional internal communications and planning equipment. The Argus is dedicated to engineering reconnaissance and battlefield assessment tasks to improve mobility and obstacle analysis. The Atlas, an armoured recovery and repair vehicle, is equipped to tow, recover, and support other Ajax family vehicles in the field. The Apollo serves as an equipment repair and maintenance vehicle, fitted with tools and fittings to support sustainment and battlefield repair tasks. To date, orders for the British Army comprise 245 Ajax reconnaissance, 93 Ares, 112 Athena, 51 Argus, 38 Atlas, and 50 Apollo vehicles in the total fleet of 589.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.