2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Scorpion 120 mm mortar system in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Ukraine fielded Scorpion/Alakran 120 mm mobile mortar systems in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, with public reporting documenting Kharkiv-region combat use in October 2023 and later 210th Assault Regiment training with Spain-supplied VAMTAC-mounted systems.

Weapon profileScorpion 120 mm mortar system
SideUkraineRoleFire Support
Scorpion 120 mm mortar system, vehicle-mounted 81 mm / 120 mm mobile mortar system, Artillery - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: Global Ordnance Scorpion AUSA

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Ukraine used Scorpion 120 mm self-propelled mortars during Kharkiv-region fighting in October 2023.

Sources: Defence Blog Scorpion Ukraine, Defense Express Scorpion Battlefield

Ukrainian artillerymen described practical Alacran/Scorpion use, including rapid setup, a two-person crew, and fast displacement after firing.

Sources: ArmyInform Alacran Scorpion Mobility

The documented battlefield role was mobile indirect fire support for Ukrainian forces.

Sources: Defense Express Scorpion Battlefield, ArmyInform Alacran Scorpion Mobility

Ukraine's 210th Assault Regiment later showed Alakran/Scorpion systems mounted on Spain-supplied URO VAMTAC vehicles.

Sources: Defense Express Alakran 210th Assault Regiment, Defence Blog Spain Alakran Carriers

Open sources do not establish the total number of Scorpion/Alakran systems delivered to Ukraine.

Sources: Defence Blog Scorpion Ukraine, Defense Express Alakran 210th Assault Regiment

Timeline

Scorpion 120 mm mortar system In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. Scorpion reported in Kharkiv-region combat use

    Defence Blog reported that Ukrainian forces had begun using Scorpion self-propelled mortars and described a 120 mm system spotted during operations against Russian troops in Kharkiv region.

    Sources: Defence Blog Scorpion Ukraine

  2. Ukrainian artillerymen describe Alacran/Scorpion use

    ArmyInform published Ukrainian artillerymen's comments about practical use of the Alacran/Scorpion 120 mm self-propelled mortar, emphasizing mobility, a two-person crew, and fast departure from firing positions.

    Sources: ArmyInform Alacran Scorpion Mobility

  3. Defense Express reports battlefield appearance

    Defense Express reported that Scorpion self-propelled mortars were in Ukrainian Defense Forces service and that Kraken soldiers had demonstrated battlefield use after earlier training footage.

    Sources: Defense Express Scorpion Battlefield

  4. 210th Assault Regiment VAMTAC-mounted systems reported

    Defence Blog reported that Ukraine's 210th Assault Regiment had deployed Spain-supplied VAMTAC vehicles equipped with Alakran mortar systems.

    Sources: Defence Blog Spain Alakran Carriers

  5. Defense Express details 210th Assault Regiment training

    Defense Express described 210th Assault Regiment material showing Alakran/Scorpion mobile mortars on Spanish URO VAMTAC vehicles during training for assault-support fire.

    Sources: Defense Express Alakran 210th Assault Regiment

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The Scorpion 120 mm mortar system appears in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War as a Ukrainian-operated mobile mortar. Defence Blog reported on 23 October 2023 that a 120 mm Scorpion system had been spotted in Ukrainian military service during an operation against Russian troops in Kharkiv region, and tied the appearance to fighting around Ivanivka involving Ukrainian forces including the Kraken unit.

Defense Express reported on 8 November 2023 that Ukrainian Defense Forces had Scorpion self-propelled mortars in their arsenal and that Kraken soldiers had demonstrated battlefield use after training videos appeared online. ArmyInform separately published Ukrainian artillerymen's comments about practical use of the Alacran/Scorpion 120 mm self-propelled mortar, describing a two-person crew and rapid displacement after firing.

Sources: Defence Blog Scorpion Ukraine, Defense Express Scorpion Battlefield, ArmyInform Alacran Scorpion Mobility

Timeline

The open record begins in October 2023, when public reporting placed the system in Ukrainian combat use in Kharkiv region. Follow-on reporting in November 2023 added Ukrainian crew descriptions of how the mobile mortar was used in a counter-battery and drone-heavy environment.

A second public thread appeared in November 2024, when Ukrainian 210th Assault Regiment material showed Alakran mobile mortar systems mounted on Spanish URO VAMTAC vehicles. Defense Express described the material as training for assault-support use, while Defence Blog reported that the regiment had deployed Spain-supplied VAMTAC vehicles equipped with the Alakran system.

Sources: Defence Blog Scorpion Ukraine, ArmyInform Alacran Scorpion Mobility, Defense Express Alakran 210th Assault Regiment, Defence Blog Spain Alakran Carriers

Battlefield role

In Ukrainian service, the Scorpion/Alakran record is one of mobile 120 mm mortar fire support. Sources describe the system as vehicle-mounted, able to deploy and leave a firing point quickly, and useful for short-exposure shoot-and-scoot firing in a war shaped by counter-battery fire and unmanned-aircraft observation.

The sources directly support Ukrainian operation and battlefield use, but not a complete inventory. Public reports do not establish how many systems Ukraine received, all units operating them, or a verified firing log. The best-supported unit references are Kraken-associated October 2023 battlefield footage and 210th Assault Regiment material showing VAMTAC-mounted Alakran systems in 2024.

Sources: Defense Express Scorpion Battlefield, ArmyInform Alacran Scorpion Mobility, Defense Express Alakran 210th Assault Regiment, Defence Blog Spain Alakran Carriers

Related Weapons by Role

120 mm mortar launcher, Heavy mortar launcher, ArtilleryArtillery120 mm mortar launcherHeavy mortar launcherA 120 mm mortar launcher is a heavy indirect-fire weapon class used to fire high-angle mortar bombs from a tube, baseplate, and bipod, a towed mount, or a vehicle system. This generic entry is for source-backed cases where public evidence identifies the caliber and mortar role but not a precise national model, including Ukrainian 120-mm mortar fire near Chasiv Yar, probable 120 mm mortar shelling in Yemen, Gaddafi-era use around Misratah, and a Nigerien seizure from Boko Haram fighters.
2S40 Floks, 120 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer/mortar, ArtilleryArtillery2S40 Floks120 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer/mortarThe 2S40 Floks is a Russian 120 mm wheeled self-propelled gun-mortar developed by Burevestnik under the Nabrosok artillery program and mounted on an armored Ural-4320 6x6 chassis. Open reporting ties it to Russian battlefield use in Ukraine from October 2023, where Ukrainian drone units documented strikes against newly fielded systems while Rostec and defense references describe the platform's combined mortar, howitzer-style indirect-fire, and direct-fire roles.
9K115 Metis, Man-portable anti-tank guided missile system, Infantry WeaponsInfantry Weapons9K115 MetisMan-portable anti-tank guided missile systemThe 9K115 Metis is a Soviet/Russian man-portable, wire-guided anti-tank guided missile family developed for company-level infantry anti-armor fire. The original AT-7 Saxhorn used a lightweight launcher and 94 mm missile for short-range engagements, while the Metis-M and Metis-M1 upgrades moved to larger 130 mm missiles with tandem HEAT and thermobaric options. Its documented conflict use spans Russian and Ukrainian Metis-M fielding in Ukraine, Houthi use in Yemen, Syrian rebel use, and Hezbollah's anti-tank missile threat in the 2006 Lebanon War.
2 more weapons
Back to Scorpion 120 mm mortar systemBrowse 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Sources