Abstract: Mortar weapons have traditionally provided the infantry commander with indirect fire that is immediately available. While the introduction of mechanised forces during the 1960s and 1970s provided the impetus to mount traditional ground-based mortars into armoured personnel carriers, the weapons systems have undergone little further development. Organisational studies to support the recent drive to restructure armies into lighter, more mobile and deployable forces are showing a considerable increase in the quantity of mortars, especially heavy mortar weapon systems, that are being considered for inclusion in light armoured and mechanised infantry units. This paper discusses some of the technical methods that might be employed by designers to provide mortar weapons and mortar ammunition with increased capabilities to meet the firepower needs of these new lighter, but more capable, forces. The paper also discusses other aspects, which will arguably provide a greater improvement, such as the provision of position and pointing information for mortar weapons, accurate target survey information and the integration of mortar weapons into vehicles that have common mobility with the remainder of the force.