Partner 2025: Serbian 203 mm self-propelled mortar unveiled

The TSMB 203 mm mortar is a muzzle-loaded system with an automatic loader for the 100 kg mortar round. (Janes/Christopher Petrov)

Serbian state-owned Military Technical Institute (MTI) presented the 203 mm Teški Samohodni Minobacač (TSMB, translates to heavy self-propelled mortar) at the Partner 2025 defence exhibition held in Belgrade from 23 to 26 September. According to a representative from the institute, this large-calibre mobile system has been created in response to requirements from the Serbian Ministry of Defence (MoD) that desired a system with much greater lethality, but retaining a mortarʼs parabolic trajectory, enabling strikes over hills.

The platform is based on the 6×6 FAP 2026 vehicle, while the 24 calibre mortar system is based on the 155 mm M-65 howitzer, itself a Yugoslav-built variant of the 1940s-era American M114 howitzer. The FAP 2026 platform provides the TSMB with a maximum mobility range of 800 km and a top speed of 80 km/h on road. The system is said to weigh up to 19 tonnes.

The mortar barrel has an elevation range from 0° to 75° and can move slightly in the azimuth by ±23.5°. For the autoloader system to function, the mortar barrel must return to 0° in elevation and azimuth to allow the next round to be loaded from the muzzle end. The mortar system also appears to maintain the same recoil reduction mechanism as the M-65 howitzer.

With a maximum range of 12.5 km, the mortar fires a 100 kg round, which contains up to 27 kg of explosive charge. The round has a length of 1,750 mm and can travel at speeds of up to 400 m/s. The warhead is stated to be RDX-based. The destruction radius of the round is stated to be around 75 m, using impact fuzing.