Azerbaijani army trains with Israeli-made Cardom Hatchet Recoil Mortar System

via Army Recognition.

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.

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.

Here. 

Wow.  The mortar is a bit interesting but the carrier strikes my fancy a bit more.  I don't know a thing about it and I don't really know the history of mortar carriers but I can't recall a vehicle in the modern era that appears to be purpose built for the task.  This one seems like it is...or I could just be blowing this whole thing out of proportion.  I mean how many different beds have we seen placed on the back of F-350s here in the USA?