Artillery

Iron Sting 120 mm guided mortar munition

Also known as
  • Iron Sting
  • Iron Sting mortar munition
  • Iron Sting 120mm GMM
  • 120 mm precision-guided mortar munition
  • guided mortar munition
  • laser- and GPS-guided mortar munition

Iron Sting is an Israeli 120 mm laser- and GPS-guided mortar munition from Elbit Systems that gives mortar units a precision-fire option without changing the basic 120 mm smoothbore mortar role. Elbit's 2025 brochure lists GPS, combined laser/GPS, and laser-only guidance modes, a 1.5-10 km range depending on the mortar system, and less-than-5 m CEP in semi-active laser mode. Israeli and defense reporting document Maglan and other IDF commando units using it in Gaza and along the Lebanon border after October 2023.

Iron Sting 120 mm guided mortar munition, 120 mm guided mortar munition, Artillery
Image source: File: IDF Iron Sting, September 2022. I.jpg

Role in Conflicts

2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict
Fire SupportInterdiction
Side
Israel

Ynet reported that Maglan reserve soldiers shifted some Iron Sting fire toward Lebanon, including junctions used by Hezbollah fighters after attacks along the border; Breaking Defense later cited an IDF-mentioned launch-post strike in Lebanon on 2023-12-15.

Operational Employment Notes

Public reporting identifies Iron Sting as an IDF commando-unit precision mortar round rather than a general inventory count. The sources below support the visible conflict rows and also show the limits of public information about quantities fired.

Date or periodTheaterReported useSource
2023-10-22 reportingGaza StripYnet said Maglan reserve troops used Iron Sting against a Hamas rocket-launching site and fired roughly half of 12 early precision rounds toward Gaza.Ynet Iron Sting first operational use
Late 2023 to early 2024 reportingKhan Younis and GazaBreaking Defense reported IDF mentions of Iron Sting use by 98th Division commando units against rocket launchers, a weapon-storage compound, and other targets in Khan Younis.Breaking Defense Iron Sting inside look
2023-10-22 and 2024-02 reportingLebanon borderYnet reported fire toward Lebanon against junctions used by Hezbollah fighters, while Breaking Defense cited an IDF-mentioned 2023-12-15 launch-post strike in Lebanon.Ynet Iron Sting first operational use; Breaking Defense Iron Sting inside look
Quantity caveatPublic reportingBreaking Defense said the IDF did not provide the number of Iron Sting systems in use or the number of rounds fired so far.Breaking Defense Iron Sting inside look
Procurement Context

Public cost reporting for Iron Sting is about procurement value, not a clean per-round price. The two official announcements below describe the same July 2024 purchase in different ways.

DateDocumented amountWhat was said
2024-07-29Over $220 millionThe Israeli Ministry of Defense said it signed an order for thousands of Iron Sting rounds from Elbit Systems.
2024-07-29About $190 millionElbit said it won a two-year supply contract for Iron Sting guided mortar munitions.

Public sources do not disclose a per-round unit price. Source labels used here: Israel MOD Iron Sting order, July 2024; Elbit Iron Sting contract, July 2024.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Israel
Type
120 mm guided mortar munition
Service note
2020s
Designer
Elbit Systems
Designed
2010s
Unit cost
Not publicly disclosed
Produced
Serial production began in 2021.
Number built
Not publicly disclosed

Specifications

Caliber
120 mm
Weight
16.2 kg in Elbit's 2025 brochure; Elbit's blog rounds it to 17 kg
Length
950 mm
Range
1.5-10 km depending on the mortar system
Guidance modes
GPS/IMU, GPS plus semi-active laser, and semi-active laser only
Accuracy
CEP 50% less than 10 m with GPS and less than 5 m with SAL
Seeker
Stiff-neck CMOS dual-mode seeker compatible with STANAG 3733 laser coding
Warhead
10.8 kg fragmentation and blast warhead
Fuze modes
Point detonation, point detonation delay, and proximity sensor
Mission loading time
15 seconds
Launch tube
Smoothbore 120 mm standard mortar
Guidance and Launch

Iron Sting keeps the mortar-tube launch model but adds onboard guidance, selectable fuzing, and a short mission-loading sequence for maneuver units.

FeatureDocumented detailSource
GuidanceGPS/IMU, GPS plus semi-active laser, and semi-active laser-only modes.Iron Sting 2025 brochure
AccuracyCEP 50% less than 10 m with GPS and less than 5 m with semi-active laser guidance.Iron Sting 2025 brochure
Range1.5-10 km depending on the mortar system.Iron Sting 2025 brochure
Launch methodFired from a standard smoothbore 120 mm mortar; Breaking Defense observed a Humvee-mounted launcher.Iron Sting 2025 brochure; Breaking Defense Iron Sting inside look
Loading time15 seconds for mission loading.Iron Sting 2025 brochure
Warhead and fuze10.8 kg fragmentation-and-blast warhead with PD, PDD, and proximity fuze modes.Iron Sting 2025 brochure

Source labels used here: Iron Sting 2025 brochure; Breaking Defense Iron Sting inside look.

Firing Platforms

Iron Sting is a 120 mm guided mortar munition, so its practical value depends on compatible smoothbore mortar systems and the fire-control chain around them.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
120 mm mortar, Heavy mortar, Artillery120 mm mortar120 mm mortar tube

Elbit's brochure says Iron Sting is fired from standard smoothbore 120 mm mortars; Breaking Defense described a Humvee-mounted launcher and noted the system can also be mounted on vehicles such as an M113.

Sources: Iron Sting 2025 brochure, Breaking Defense Iron Sting inside look

Timeline

Iron Sting 120 mm guided mortar munition Key Events

  1. Final trials and serial production announcement

    Elbit, the Ministry of Defense DDR&D, and the IDF Ground Forces said Iron Sting had completed final trials in southern Israel and could enter serial production.

    Sources: Iron Sting reveal, March 2021

  2. IDF operationalizes it in war

    The IDF said Maglan made Iron Sting operational a few days after the war began and used it against Hamas launching posts in Gaza; Ynet separately reported early fire toward Gaza and Lebanon.

    Sources: Meet the IDF's Newly Operational Iron Sting GPS and Laser-Guided Mortar Munition, Ynet Iron Sting first operational use

  3. Major procurement order announced

    The Israeli Ministry of Defense said it signed an order worth over $220 million for thousands of Iron Sting munitions from Elbit Systems.

    Sources: Israel MOD Iron Sting order, July 2024

Media

Iron Sting 120 mm guided mortar munition Videos

Iron Sting 120 mm guided mortar munition Images

Iron Sting 120 mm guided mortar munition, 120 mm guided mortar munition, Artillery - view 1
Source: File: IDF Iron Sting, September 2022. II.jpg
Iron Sting 120 mm guided mortar munition, 120 mm guided mortar munition, Artillery - view 2
Source: File: IDF Iron Sting, September 2022. V.jpg
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Sources

Iron Sting Laser and GPS Guided Mortar MunitionPublisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Supports manufacturer and specs for the Iron Sting 120 mm guided mortar munition, including guidance modes, range, weight, warhead, and fuze details. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Iron Sting 2025 brochurePublisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Supports current Elbit brochure specifications for Iron Sting, including GMM designation, range, weight, length, guidance modes, accuracy, seeker compatibility, launch tube, warhead, fuze modes, and mission loading time. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Iron Sting tunnel-shaft articlePublisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct conflict-use: Elbit says IDF ground troops used Iron Sting in the Iron Swords War in Gaza against terrorist infrastructure such as tunnel shafts and rocket-launcher targets; also supports development background and rounded 17 kg/10 km performance claims. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Iron Sting reveal, March 2021Publisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Supports the March 2021 reveal, final trials, serial production start, and development background for Iron Sting. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Meet the IDF's Newly Operational Iron Sting GPS and Laser-Guided Mortar MunitionPublisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct conflict-use: the IDF said Maglan troops utilized Iron Sting in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War to target Hamas launching posts in Gaza. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Ynet Iron Sting first operational usePublisher: Ynetnews | Note: Supports direct conflict-use claims for the 2023 Israel-Hamas War and 2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict: Ynet reported Maglan use against a Hamas rocket launcher in Gaza and additional Iron Sting fire toward targets in Lebanon used by Hezbollah fighters. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Breaking Defense Iron Sting inside lookPublisher: Breaking Defense | Note: Supports direct conflict-use claims for Gaza and Lebanon, launcher/platform context, development roles, IDF comments on stockpile limits, and the embedded field demonstration video. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Israel MOD Iron Sting order, July 2024Publisher: Israel Ministry of Defense | Note: Supports the July 2024 procurement context and the reported over-$220 million order for Iron Sting munitions. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Elbit Iron Sting contract, July 2024Publisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Supports the July 2024 contract context, including the approximate $190 million award and the statement that Iron Sting is launched from a 120 mm mortar. | Accessed: 2026-07-01File: IDF Iron Sting, September 2022. I.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for this Iron Sting image; the file page shows IDF Spokesperson's Unit release under CC BY-SA 3.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-01File: IDF Iron Sting, September 2022. II.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for this Iron Sting image; the file page shows IDF Spokesperson's Unit release under CC BY-SA 3.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-01File: IDF Iron Sting, September 2022. V.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for this Iron Sting image; the file page shows IDF Spokesperson's Unit release under CC BY-SA 3.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-01