The 82 mm 2B9 Vasilek is a Soviet automatic gun-mortar that combines mortar trajectories with clip-fed rapid fire from a wheeled carriage. Source-backed conflict records place the family in Soviet-Afghan fire-support accounts, Syrian government and opposition use, Russian-side use in Ukraine, and captured Armenian equipment in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh fighting.
A U.S. government-hosted FMSO translation of Soviet tactical accounts identifies Vasilek automatic mortars in Soviet/Afghan-government force groupings, including two mortars supporting an April operation and six in a reduced regiment.
ARES documented Ansar al-Sham fighters firing a 2B9M automatic mortar near Mount Chalma in 2014, while noting uncertainty with the Chinese W99 copy; VPK.name/Rossiyskaya Gazeta later reported Syrian Armed Forces receipt of 82 mm Vasilek automatic mortars, including one photographed during transfer toward Idlib.
Role detailsRussian 2B9 Vasilek systems are documented in vehicle-mounted battlefield use and losses, including a Ural-based mortar destroyed on the Kupiansk front; Ukrainian GAZ-66-mounted 2B9 Vasilek losses are also documented in the war.
Role detailsOryx documented two 82 mm 2B9 Vasilek mortars among Armenian equipment captured during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh fighting, supporting fielding by the Armenia / Artsakh side but not a specific firing incident.
The Vasilek family is unusual because it combines mortar high-angle fire with a recoil-operated automatic loading cycle. ARES describes the 2B9M as able to fire standard 82 mm Eastern Bloc mortar projectiles from four-round clips, while single smoke or illumination rounds can be loaded individually from the muzzle.
Four-round en bloc clips feed from right to left; ARES says one clip can be fired in about two seconds.
The 2B9M can be used at mortar elevations or in direct-fire mode, with ARES giving about 1,000 m effective direct-fire range and up to 4,270 m indirect range.
ARES describes normal carriage by GAZ-66 trucks, MT-LB adaptations, Hungarian BMP/AMB experiments, and a U.S. HMMWV Scorpion trial.
The 2B9 family splits mainly between the original Soviet water-cooled weapon, the Hungarian-refined air-cooled 2B9M line, Hungary's later DE-82 export modification, and China's Type W99 copy.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2B9M Vasilek | Air-cooled modernization | ARES describes the 2B9M as an air-cooled modernization of the water-cooled 2B9, introduced after Hungarian modifications in 1982 and adopted in 1983. |
| DE-82 | Hungarian export modification | ARES says DIGÉP pursued a further modification programme in 1987 for hot, sandy export environments, with the modified version designated DE-82. |
| Type W99 | Chinese copy/export system | Forecast International describes the 82 mm Type W99 as a close copy of the Russian AM 2B9 Vasilek and says NORINCO offers a Type W99-based mortar system for export. Sources: Mortars International Forecast |
ARES says the 2B9M Vasilek can fire Hungary's BEKM-82 HEAT projectile in direct-fire mode, and HTI says the round was designed for automatic and conventional mortars. ARES also notes that the 2B9M can fire standard 82 mm Eastern Bloc mortar projectiles in four-round clips or as single smoke and illumination rounds.
| Ammunition | Ammunition type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 82 mm HEAT mortar projectile | ARES identifies the 2B9M Vasilek as using the BEKM-82 HEAT projectile for direct fire, and HTI says the round can be fired from automatic and conventional mortars. Sources: Soviet 2B9M Vasilek self-loading mortar, 82 mm repesz-kumulatív aknagránát |
 | 82 mm mortar-bomb family | The 2B9M Vasilek is documented as able to fire standard 82 mm Eastern Bloc mortar projectiles in four-round clips, with single smoke and illumination rounds also loadable individually. Sources: Soviet 2B9M Vasilek self-loading mortar, 82 mm repesz-kumulatív aknagránát |
The Vasilek is a towed mortar but has repeatedly appeared on truck and armored-vehicle mounts. ARES describes MT-LB adaptations in addition to normal GAZ-66 carriage, and Oryx lists Russian MT-LB vehicles fitted with the 82 mm automatic mortar during the full-scale Russia-Ukraine War.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Tracked armored carrier and weapons platform | ARES identifies MT-LB adaptations of the 2B9M Vasilek, while Oryx documents Russian MT-LB vehicles fitted with 82 mm automatic mortar 2B9 Vasilek as losses in Ukraine. Sources: Soviet 2B9M Vasilek self-loading mortar, Oryx Russian Equipment Losses Ukraine |
ARES traces 2B9 development to the late 1960s from the F-82 automatic mortar and identifies 1970 as the Soviet Army adoption year.
Sources: Soviet 2B9M Vasilek self-loading mortar
Hungarian modifications led to the modernized 2B9M, which ARES says was type-classified in 1982 and adopted in 1983.
Sources: Soviet 2B9M Vasilek self-loading mortar
DIGÉP continued modification work in 1987, producing the DE-82 export-oriented version for hot, sandy operating environments.
Sources: Soviet 2B9M Vasilek self-loading mortar
ARES reported Ansar al-Sham fighters firing a 2B9M automatic mortar near Mount Chalma in Syria's Kesab district.
Sources: ARES Ansar al-Sham Vasilek in Syria
VPK.name, carrying Rossiyskaya Gazeta reporting, said Syrian Armed Forces had received 82 mm Vasilek automatic mortars and cited a photograph of one being moved toward Idlib.
Sources: Syrian Army Receives Vasilek Mortars
Oryx listed two 82 mm 2B9 Vasilek mortars among Armenian equipment captured during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.
Sources: The Fight For Nagorno-Karabakh: Documenting Losses On The Sides Of Armenia And Azerbaijan
Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that Ukrainian border guards and artillery destroyed a Russian-occupation 82 mm 2B9 Vasilek mortar position in Donetsk region.
Sources: Ukraine MVS Border Guards Destroy Vasilek
