Global Military Products will participate in the U.S. Army’s upcoming Transformation in Contact (TiC) 2.0 event with its Scorpion Light 81mm mobile mortar system, part of an ongoing effort to modernize indirect fire capabilities under the Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP).
The trials, conducted under a contract with the Product Manager for Artillery Mortars and Precision Systems (PdM AMPS), will allow soldiers to directly evaluate the system’s performance and provide feedback to guide future acquisition decisions.
TiC 2.0 begins October 20 in Hawaii, where soldiers will undergo five days of new equipment training conducted by Global Military Products. The training will provide operational knowledge and the limited safety release required to conduct live-fire testing of the Scorpion Light system. After that, soldiers will participate in 10 days of tactical exercises and simulated combat operations to evaluate the mortar in realistic field scenarios.
The event will also test the Scorpion Light’s rapid-fire control system, which features auto-lay and auto re-aim capabilities designed to improve accuracy, speed, and operational efficiency during combat.
“Soldier touchpoints like the TiC 2.0 serve as an invaluable platform for government and industry to collaboratively review, assess and innovate with the latest technologies,” said James Knight, senior manager of Defense Systems and Energetics at Global Military Products. “Most importantly, they facilitate the utilization of soldier feedback to inform requirements and expedite the acquisition process for mortar modernization. As a retired Army mortarman, I am intimately familiar with the Army’s requirements for mortar modernization and strongly support the TiC initiative to swiftly enhance the mobility, lethality, operator safety and air transportability of these assets.”
Knight’s comments reflect the Army’s increasing emphasis on integrating soldier input into the development process for new technologies. By involving troops directly in evaluation and experimentation, the service aims to accelerate the transition from prototype to fielded capability.
The Scorpion Light 81mm mobile mortar system is designed for rapid response and maneuverability. It can fire eight rounds and relocate in under two minutes — taking just 30 seconds to fire the first round and another 30 seconds to displace after firing the last. A non-seating baseplate allows the weapon to be emplaced or displaced quickly on almost any surface, while its rugged construction and resilient technologies ensure durability in combat conditions, extreme temperatures, and challenging terrain.
The system has also been certified as air-droppable and compatible with internal air transport in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, enabling rapid deployment in support of expeditionary forces.
For the TiC 2.0 event, the Scorpion Light system and 72 mortar rounds will be integrated onto two GM Defense Infantry Utility Vehicles (IUVs), a variant of the Army’s Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). However, the system’s modular design allows it to be mounted on virtually any vehicle platform. Integrations have already been completed on the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon as well as the Polaris MRZR Alpha 4×4 and 6×6 platforms.
Global Ordnance, the parent company of Global Military Products, will also showcase its mortar technology at the 2025 AUSA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., from October 13–15. The company’s exhibit will feature a Scorpion 120mm mobile mortar system integrated on a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), highlighting its expanding portfolio of modular indirect fire solutions.