General Information
The Cardom is a 81mm/120mm Recoil Mortar System, manufactured by Soltam Systems. Since Soltam’s sale in 2010, Elbit Systems has taken over its manufacturing.
The mortar has been used by the Spanish and US Armies in Iraq and Afghanistan[1]Israel Defense, Success for Elbit Systems’ Mortars in Afghanistan20.02.2015, in the Syrian civil war[2]TWZ, Futuristic Mortar Turret Seen In Action At U.S. Special Ops Base In Syria, 21.02.2023, and by Azerbaijan in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
A new version of Cardom, is called Spear[3]Elbit, SPEAR.
The Cardom Mortar and the SPEAR variant were also sold to Azerbaijan[4]SIPRI, Cameroon[5]SIPRI, Denmark[6]SIPRI, Estonia,[7]Shephard News, Estonia orders Israeli mortars, 10.11.2021, Kazakhstan[8]SIPRI, Lithuania[9]SIPRI, Montenegro[10]SIPRI, Philippines[11]Max Defense, Elbit Systems Wins Contacts to Upgrde Philippines Army M113A2 with RCWS and Mortars, 14.06.2018, Portugal[12]SIPRI, Romania[13]SIPRI, Spain[14]Army Recognition, Elbit Systems won contract to supply CARDOM 81 mm autonomous recoil mortar for Spanish Army, 31.10.2011 Thailand[15]SIPRI, Uganda[16]SIPRI, USA[17]SIPRI and Zambia[18]SIPRI.
Variations:
Keshet – The systems name in use of the Israeli military.
Dragon EFSS – The systems name in use of the US forces.
Spear – A new version of Cardom.
Use by Israeli Forces
Since 2006 the mortar is used by many Israeli military units including: Golani, Giva’ati, Kfir, Nahal and the paratroopers brigades, as well as the Armored Corps. Cardom has been used during the attack on Gaza in 2008-2009 (Cast Lead) and 2014 (Pillar of Defense) in many incidents.
Noticeably, on September 5th, 2009, a 13 year old Palestinian boy was killed by the mortars in the Gaza strip. On July 30th, 2014, 3 Palestinian journalists were killed by the mortars in an Israeli bombarding of the market place in Sajaiyeh in the Gaza strip.