Iron sting: Israel's €186m investment in advanced mortar shell

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has ordered new weaponry—Iron Sting mortar shells. Although details are classified, the contract valued at €186 million indicates that thousands of shells have been ordered. What is Iron Sting, and how does it differ from Precision Strike Ammunition?

Their manufacturer, Elbit Systems, confirmed the order for Iron Stings. This is a new weapon – although work began over a decade ago, tests were only completed in 2021, and in the same year, the weapon was used in combat. The Israeli army first publicly disclosed the use of Iron Stings during battles with Hamas following the attack on Israel in October 2023.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense ordered a large – though undisclosed – number of shells, priced at €186 million. (Elbit's data suggest €216 million). Deliveries are to be completed within two years.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the Iron Sting's advanced guidance system "minimises (...) collateral damage and reduces risks to non-combatants. This advanced ammunition represents a significant leap in the capability of the Israel Defense Forces to conduct operations in complex combat conditions and urban environments."

Iron Sting is a guided mortar shell with a calibre of 120 mm. At 94 cm long, it weighs 17 kg, with more than 10 kg dedicated to the warhead. Its firing range is 12 km.

Compared to global competition—precision strike ammunition developed for the APR programme—the Iron Sting shell stands out with its advanced guidance system: It uses GPS, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and a semi-active laser (SAL) guidance module, which uses laser target designation.

The shell can simultaneously use different guidance combinations, allowing for very high firing accuracy, reaching 1 metre. Thanks to laser guidance, firing is possible without considering meteorological conditions.

The Iron Sting shell has an advanced warhead capable of operating in multiple modes – it can detonate on impact, with a delay (useful for destroying fortifications), or with a proximity fuze. Entering the necessary data for firing takes no more than 15 seconds GMT.