On Thursday, June 18, 2026, the fourth day of the 29th edition of Eurosatory 2026, the international defense industry trade show organized by Coges Events, taking place June 15-19 of this year in Paris-Nord Villepinte near Paris, French group Thales announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with French company Arquus (part of Belgian John Cockerill Defense) on the integration of the SpinFire mortar family, including 120mm rifled mortars, into Arquus light tactical vehicles.
Photo: Thales
This partnership combines Thales’s expertise in mobile, precision weapon systems with Arquus’s proficiency in tactical vehicle design and integration. It offers attractive, ready-made solutions for both companies’ target markets.
The cooperation is represented by two demonstrator models: the 120MC mortar, which has successfully completed an evaluation campaign, and the 2R2M (Rifled Recoiled Mounted Mortar) automatic mortar – a self-propelled variant of the towed MO-120-RT-61 mortar (manufacturer’s designation: 120 RT), already proven on the VAB (Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé) armored personnel carrier and the latest MEPAC (Mortier Embarqué Pour l’Appui au Contact), mounted on a modified wheeled Griffon VBMR (Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôles) armored personnel carrier chassis.
The demonstrator was presented at the Arquus stand during Eurosatory 2026.
The MoU is intended to initiate preliminary discussions on the integration of the SpinFire mortar family, including the 120mm rifled mortar, into vehicles from the Arquus range. At a time when land forces are seeking fire support solutions combining precision, durability, and versatility, the availability of options between the towed MO-120-RT-61 mortar and the self-propelled 2R2M has become essential. To meet this requirement, Thales is developing a generic offering based on its SpinFire range (120 RT, 120 MC, and 2R2M), providing increased flexibility and modularity.
The 120 MC (120 Mortar Carrier) was introduced to the market in 2024 and recently successfully completed a demonstration and evaluation campaign conducted by the French Army (Armée de terre). The system is based on a demonstrator originally developed in the Kingdom of the Netherlands in cooperation with Spanish company Escribano Mechanical & Engineering and Dutch special vehicle manufacturer Defenture. It provides increased mobility and rapid deployment capability.
Developed by Thales since 1992, the 2R2M mortar is based on the proven performance of the towed 120mm mortar. Designed for vehicle integration, the 2R2M combines precision, rapid deployment, and optimized mobility, meeting the current operational requirements of land forces.
Under this partnership, Thales brings its specialized expertise by delivering complete weapon system solutions:
- For the 120 MC system, Thales will supply the Weapon Management System (WMS), inertial navigation unit, 120mm rifled barrel, and compatible ammunition, while Arquus will supply the vehicles and Escribano the folding arm.
- For the 2R2M system, Thales will also supply the WMS, inertial navigation unit, and the 2R2M weapon system along with ammunition, while Arquus is responsible for vehicle integration.
This non-exclusive industrial partnership will enable Thales and Arquus to leverage their technical and commercial expertise, particularly in export markets.
“With the SpinFire mortar family, we offer armed forces a comprehensive range of mobile and responsive fire-support solutions, tailored to the full spectrum of operations. The signing of this partnership with Arquus marks a new milestone in its development.” said Julien Assoun, Vice President, Vehicles and Tactical Systems, Thales.
The ability to shoot and move has become a decisive advantage on today’s battlefield.
At #Eurosatory2026, Thales and @Arquus_Defense are showcasing a new approach to mobile fire support by combining SpinFire mortar systems with Arquus tactical vehicles.
Greater mobility. Faster… pic.twitter.com/450cYQGSlI
— Thales Group (@thalesgroup) June 19, 2026