Munitions

M983 120 mm infrared illuminating cartridge

Also known as
  • XM983 120mm Infrared (IR) Illuminating Cartridge
  • M983 infrared mortar illuminating cartridge
  • M-983 120 MM Infrared Illuminating Cartridge
  • 120 mm M983 IR illuminating cartridge

The M983 is a U.S. 120 mm infrared illuminating mortar cartridge developed by ARDEC for the M120A1 towed and M121 carrier-mounted mortar systems. Army and FAS references place it in the same illumination family as the visible-light M930, but with an infrared candle for night-vision devices, a parachute-retarded descent, and about 50-60 seconds of burn time.

M983 120 mm infrared illuminating cartridge, 120 mm infrared illuminating mortar cartridge, Munitions
Image source: M-982 120 MM Infrared Illuminating Cartridge
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
120 mm infrared illuminating mortar cartridge
Service note
2000s-present
Designer
U.S. Army ARDEC
Produced
2002-present

Specifications

Caliber
120 mm
Cartridge type
Infrared illuminating mortar cartridge
Compatible systems
M120A1 and M121 Battalion Mortar Systems
Range
375 m minimum; 6,675 m maximum
Weight
30.6 lb (13.65 kg)
Length
27.67 in
Burn time
50-60 seconds
Fuze
M776 mechanical time super quick fuze
Height of burst
500 m
Sustained rate of fire
4 rounds/min
Variants

Army and FAS sources treat the M983 as the infrared member of a 120 mm illumination-cartridge family that also includes the visible-light M930.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
M930 Visible Light Illuminating Cartridge, 120 mm illuminating mortar cartridge, MunitionsM930 Visible Light Illuminating CartridgeVisible-light 120 mm illumination cartridge

FAS describes the M930 and M983 as identical except for candle composition: M930 uses a visible-light illuminant mix, while M983 uses an infrared mix for night-vision devices.

Sources: XM983 120mm Infrared (IR) Illuminating Cartridge

Fired by 120 mm Mortars

Army and FAS references identify the M983 as a 120 mm infrared illumination cartridge for the M120A1 towed and M121 carrier-mounted mortar systems.

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

The Army portfolio book says the M983 was developed for the M120A1 and M121 Battalion Mortar Systems, while FAS describes the XM983/M983 family as ammunition for M120/M121 120 mm mortars.

Sources: XM983 120mm Infrared (IR) Illuminating Cartridge, PEO Ammunition 2017 Portfolio Book

Infrared Illumination Context

The M983 is distinct from the broader 120 mm illumination ammunition class because its defining feature is the infrared candle. The round supports night-vision-equipped observers without producing the same visible-light effect as the M930 Visible Light Illuminating Cartridge.

FeatureDocumented M983 detailReader context
IlluminantInfrared candle assemblyDesigned for passive night-vision devices rather than unaided visible illumination.
Function sequenceTimed fuze initiates the candle and separates the projectile body so the parachute-retarded candle descends over the target area.Explains why the cartridge is cataloged as illumination ammunition rather than a blast or fragmentation mortar bomb.
Family splitM930 and M983 share the same basic cartridge arrangement but use different candle compositions.Shows the practical distinction between visible-light and infrared 120 mm illumination rounds.
Firing systemsM120A1 and M121 Battalion Mortar SystemsLinks the cartridge to the U.S. 120 mm mortar systems that fire it.
Timeline

M983 120 mm infrared illuminating cartridge Key Events

  1. First Army IR mortar illumination family fielded

    Picatinny reported that ARDEC developed and fielded the 60 mm M766, 81 mm M816, and 120 mm M983 infrared mortar illuminating cartridges in 2002.

  2. Army highlights M983 production line

    An Army Materiel Command article documented the M983 120 mm infrared illuminating cartridge production line at Pine Bluff Arsenal.

  3. Crane candle production tied to M930 and M983 bodies

    An Army article on M930 production reported that Crane Army Ammunition Activity produced illumination and infrared candles used in M930 and M983 body loads.

Media

M983 120 mm infrared illuminating cartridge Videos

Related Weapon Systems
120 mm illumination ammunition, 120 mm illuminating ammunition, MunitionsMunitions120 mm illumination ammunition120 mm illuminating ammunition120 mm illumination ammunition is a heavy mortar munition class that ejects a parachute-retarded candle to light target areas for night observation, signaling, and fire adjustment. Nammo publishes a representative 120 mm illuminating round with time-fuze deployment at 500-700 meters, while U.S. Army sources identify visible-light M930 and infrared M983 cartridges for the M120A1 and M121 mortar systems. In the 2001 War in Afghanistan, U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest fired 120 mm mortar illumination rounds from Bost Airfield to support Afghan government forces during combat operations in Helmand Province.
M721 60 mm visible light illumination cartridge, 60 mm visible-light illuminating mortar cartridge, MunitionsMunitionsM721 60 mm visible light illumination cartridge60 mm visible-light illuminating mortar cartridgeThe M721 is a U.S. 60 mm visible-light illuminating mortar cartridge for the M224/M224A1 lightweight company mortar system. Army ammunition materials describe a parachute-and-candle payload, an M776 mechanical time fuze, and roughly 300,000 candlepower for observation, fire adjustment, and signaling, while transfer and budget records place the round in Afghan and Iraqi partner-force ammunition channels.
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M824 60 mm illumination mortar projectile, 60 mm illumination mortar projectile, ArtilleryArtilleryM824 60 mm illumination mortar projectile60 mm illumination mortar projectileThe 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.

Sources

M-982 120 MM Infrared Illuminating CartridgePublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the Army Materiel Command M983 production-line context at Pine Bluff Arsenal and the article image used as the primary illustration; the page title says M-982 while the metadata and image identify M-983. | Accessed: 2026-06-29XM983 120mm Infrared (IR) Illuminating CartridgePublisher: FAS | Note: Supports the XM983/M983 family description, M120/M121 mortar compatibility, M930/M983 candle-composition distinction, function sequence, range, burn time, height of burst, sustained rate of fire, contractor, and gallery image context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Mortar AmmunitionPublisher: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Supports the Army listing of the M983 under 120 mm infrared illumination ammunition and the visible-light versus IR illumination role split. | Accessed: 2026-06-29PEO Ammunition 2017 Portfolio BookPublisher: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Supports the M983 cartridge's development for use in the M120A1 and M121 Battalion Mortar Systems and the Army's published performance data for the round. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Picatinny delivers infrared capability to mortars, artillery of all calibersPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the ARDEC/Picatinny infrared-illumination background, the statement that the 120 mm M983 was part of the first IR mortar illuminating family fielded in 2002, and the night-vision role of IR illumination. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Arsenal delivered M930 mortars ahead of schedulePublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports Pine Bluff Arsenal production context and Crane Army Ammunition Activity production of illumination and infrared candles used in M930 and M983 body loads. | Accessed: 2026-06-29