Ukrainian soldiers use Iranian HM-16 mortars: what they are and how the AFU got them

Ukrainian defenders received Iranian HM-16 mortars.

What we know

Video with the use of mortars was published by the team of military analysts @UAWeapons. The weapons came into the hands of the Melitopol Battalion of Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

#Ukraine : The Ukrainian Melitopol TDF Battalion published a very interesting video of them using four 120mm mortars incorrectly said to be American. In fact things are even more curious - these mortars are not American, but Iranian copies of the Israeli Soltam K6 called the HM-16. pic.twitter.com/VPnAaN9JtZ

- ???????? Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) July 13, 2022

Most likely such mortars were given to us by the US. They could have been seized by the US military from Houthi in the Middle East. 

This is indeed an interesting case of weapons proliferation, given that we normally used to track Iranian arms in the Middle East but now they are increasingly appearing in Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/K8mZ8Vam41

- ???????? Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) July 13, 2022

For those who do not know

The Iranian HM-16 mortar is a copy of the Soltam K6 120mm mortar developed by Soltam Systems of Israel. The Iranian copy is manufactured by Ammunition & Metallurgy Industries Group. The HM-16 can fire 10 rounds per minute. The maximum range of the mortar is 7200 meters.

Source: @UAWeapons

For those who want to know more