The demonstration took place on 16 November in the Spanish Army firing and training range ‘Álvarez de Sotomayor’, located in Almeria (Spain). During the different exercises performed on the field, EXPAL showed all the products and systems involved in this proposal.
The company offers a unique and complementary range of products to meet all mission needs in artillery and infantry operations. Its ‘One-Stop Shop’ includes mortar systems, fire control systems, ammunition, mini UAVs, for aerial reconnaissance and tactical training simulators. All of them are coordinated and serving the same mission.
During the demonstration EXPAL’s technicians gave a technical explanation on the effectiveness of EIMOS (EXPAL Integrated Mortar System), TECHFIRE (EXPAL’s fire control system), SHEPERD-MIL (EXPAL’s mini UAV as Unmanned Forward Observer) systems and SIMOX, the training tactical simulator for mortar units, before coordinating the execution of the different exercises.
Mortar fire support implies: observing, aiming, deciding and acting. These requirements are covered by the industry, but not always as a complete solution, being the customer the one integrating all the different elements and creating a complete system. Something similar happens if we focus on the logistic needs. With this complete vision of all the needs that are demanded, EXPAL has been working on giving global solutions not only to the operational needs, but also to logistic needs integrating all of them into the One-Stop Shop concept for mortar systems.
EXPAL One-Stop Shop for mortar systems is a new and unique solution able to provide armies with a complete offer giving answer to all operational and logistical needs demanded by a mortar unit. This encompasses weapons, ammunition and associated systems (operational needs), as well as training, maintenance and phase-out at the end of its live cycle (logistics needs).
EXPAL improves observation with a mini-UAV called SHEPHERD-MIL, increasing aiming and decision making with EXPAL’s fire control system, TECHFIRE, both individually operational and, as well, being able to integrate them within in-service upper level battle management systems. EXPAL improves the acting phase with its light mortars and its EIMOS, EXPAL’s mortar system integrated on a 4×4 lightweight vehicle. The company also provides one of the widest ranges of ammunition in the market. All of these products and systems are integrated and can work together.
Furthermore, EXPAL improves training, not only with various types of long and short range practice ammunition, and 3D electronic training-aids for in-room training called e-TRAIDS, but with a new generation of mortar simulators called SIMOX. These improve the maintenance of the mortar system, not only with electronic manuals, but with a complete maintenance app. Moreover, SIMOX, as a tactical simulator, is able to train an entire mortar crew, both individually and as a team.
Finally, the company has the capability to perform the phase out of products and systems, being able to determine and extend the due date of old stocks of ammo being the world leader on green demilitarisation and the only company able to recycle the energetic materials in civil explosives.
During the presentation in the international demonstration, EXPAL explained why it is able to provide this complete solution.
EXPAL´s vertical integration of its capabilities, which covers from the identification of army’s requirements, the design of own technologies, applied manufacturing, integration, training and ILS, until the phase-out at the end of the system’s life cycle, allow EXPAL to be in position to offer the armed forces this global solution.
EXPAL One-Stop Shop offers a single point of contact for its customers, a single contractor, a single technical authority for the design, a single producer and single point of contact for quality assurance, logistics support and support services.