Artillery

M824 60 mm illumination mortar projectile

Also known as
  • M824 60 mm illumination mortar ammunition
  • M824 60 mm illuminating mortar ammunition
  • M824 illumination round
  • M824 illumination (extended range)
  • IMI M824

The M824 is a 60 mm illumination mortar projectile in the Israeli mortar-ammunition lineage now carried in Elbit Systems Land's portfolio. Elbit says the round carries a parachute-retarded flare, burns for 35 seconds, reaches 2,200 m, uses a time fuze, and fires from smoothbore 60 mm mortar barrels. A 2010 Forecast International report listed IMI's M824 as an extended-range illumination round, and OSMP documented a tentative M824 in Gaza in July 2024 as a delivered and functioned munition.

M824 60 mm illumination mortar projectile, 60 mm illumination mortar projectile, Artillery
Image source: Flickr - The U.S. Army - Illumination round.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Caliber
60 mm
Range
2,200 m
Illumination duration
35 seconds
Payload
Parachute-retarded illuminating flare
Fuze
Time fuze
Propulsion
Ignition cartridge plus one charge increment
Compatibility
Any smoothbore barrel 60 mm mortar
Firing Weapons

Elbit says the M824 is fully compatible with smoothbore 60 mm mortar barrels, making the projectile a 60 mm mortar-family illumination round rather than a launcher-specific cartridge.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
60 mm mortar, Light infantry mortar, Artillery60 mm mortar60 mm mortar family

The M824's stated smoothbore-barrel compatibility links it to the wider 60 mm mortar class represented in the catalog.

Sources: Elbit Systems Land Mortar Ammunition Portfolio

M224, 60 mm lightweight company mortar, ArtilleryM22460 mm mortar

Marine Corps mortars training material describes the M224 as a smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded 60 mm mortar, which matches Elbit's compatibility statement for the M824.

Sources: Elbit Systems Land Mortar Ammunition Portfolio, FM 23-90 Mortars

Compatibility and Field Record

The sourced record combines a current Elbit mortar-ammunition table, older IMI-era documentation, and one Gaza field record.

ContextWhat it addsSource
60 mm mortar familyElbit lists the M824 as a 60 mm illuminating round compatible with smoothbore mortar barrels, with a 2,200 m range, 35-second effect, and time fuze.Elbit Systems Land Mortar Ammunition Portfolio
Legacy manufacturer lineForecast International's November 2010 report lists IMI's 60 mm M824 as an extended-range illumination round.Mortar Ammunition (International)
Gaza field recordOSMP documented a tentative M824 in Gaza on 19 July 2024 as a delivered and functioned illumination munition.OSMP 627
Timeline

M824 60 mm illumination mortar projectile Key Events

  1. Forecast International lists an extended-range M824

    Forecast International's November 2010 mortar-ammunition report lists IMI's 60 mm M824 as an extended-range illumination round.

    Sources: Mortar Ammunition (International)

  2. OSMP records an M824 in Gaza

    OSMP documented a tentative M824 in Gaza as a delivered and functioned illumination munition during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.

    Sources: OSMP 627

Media

M824 60 mm illumination mortar projectile Images

M824 60 mm illumination mortar projectile, 60 mm illumination mortar projectile, Artillery - view 1
Source: US Navy 040520-N-3750S-010 Illumination rounds silhouette ...
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Sources

Elbit Systems Land Mortar Ammunition PortfolioPublisher: Elbit Systems Land | Note: Official portfolio entry for the M824 60 mm illuminating mortar ammunition, including its 2,200 m range, 35-second illumination time, time fuze, one-charge propulsion, and smoothbore-barrel compatibility. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Mortar Ammunition (International)Publisher: Forecast International | Note: Supports the November 2010 mortar-ammunition reference that lists IMI's 60 mm M824 as an extended-range illumination round. | Accessed: 2026-06-27FM 23-90 MortarsPublisher: U.S. Marine Corps | Note: Supports the M224 family as a smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded 60 mm mortar and the compatibility context used for the M824 pairing. | Accessed: 2026-06-27OSMP 627Publisher: Open Source Munitions Portal | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct conflict-use: OSMP documented a tentative M824 in Gaza on 19 July 2024 as a delivered and functioned 60 mm illumination mortar projectile. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Flickr - The U.S. Army - Illumination round.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for a U.S. Army/Flickr illumination-round photograph licensed under CC BY 2.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-20US Navy 040520-N-3750S-010 Illumination rounds silhouette ...Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for a U.S. Navy-released illumination-round photo showing mortar training with an M224 60 mm mortar. | Accessed: 2026-06-20