Early in 1999, RDM Technology revealed their 105 mm MOBAT (Mobile Artillery) which has been tested in the United Arab Emirates.

MOBAT, developed as a private venture by RDM Technology, consists of a DAF (4x4) cross-country truck chassis on the rear of which is mounted a flatbed fitted with a new saddle and elevating mechanism with a 33 calibre version of the upgraded 105 mm M101 towed system previously described.

By mounting the 105 mm weapon on a truck chassis it can come into and be taken out of action much quicker than a conventional towed artillery system and is therefore less likely to come under counter battery fire.

MOBAT has a higher strategic mobility and can be quickly deployed from one part of the country to another as required without additional logistic support.

To provide a more stable firing platform, a hydraulically operated stabiliser is lowered to the ground either side.

Weapon elevation and traverse is all electric using a joystick control with traverse limits being 45° left and right.

An auxiliary power unit is fitted as standard to keep the batteries supplied. A total of 40 105 mm projectiles and their associated charges and fuzes are carried.

The complete MOBAT system is of modular construction and can be removed from the vehicle in 1 hour so that the vehicle can be rapidly covered back to a truck. Although the prototype MOBAT uses a DAF chassis RDM Technology stress that a wide variety of other truck chassis can be used.

The baseline MOBAT has a standard gun sight but options include the integration of an automatic gun laying and navigation system coupled with an on board fire-control system.

The prototype of the MOBAT (Mobile Artillery) consists of a DAF YA 4440 (4 × 4) forward control cross-country truck with a flatbed rear body. On this is mounted a new saddle and elevating mass fitted with the latest RDM Technology version of the upgraded 105 mm/33 calibre M101 towed artillery system.

The main improvements for the MOBAT version are the replacement of the existing 105 mm barrel by a new and longer 105 mm/33 calibre barrel with a multislotted muzzle brake, installation of larger calibre equilibrators, new metering and recoil rod in the recoil system, replacement of the original arc, modified breech and new breech ring.

By mounting the system on a truck chassis, it is claimed that it can come into action and be taken out of action much quicker than a conventional towed 105 mm artillery system. It is therefore less likely to come under immediate counterbattery fire.

MOBAT also has a higher level of strategic mobility than a conventional towed artillery system and can therefore be quickly deployed from one part of the country to another as required without logistic support. If required, the system can also be made to resemble a standard army military truck with bows and a tarpaulin cover.

To provide a more stable firing platform, a hydraulically operated stabiliser is lowered to the ground on either side.

Weapon elevation is all-electric using joystick control with traverse limits being 45º left and right. An auxiliary power unit is fitted as standard to keep the batteries charged. Elevation range is from -90 to +1,260 mils with traverse being 800 mils left and right. A burst rate of fire of 8 rds/min can be obtained while a sustained rate of fire of 5 rds/min can be achieved.

A total of 40 105 mm projectiles and associated charges are carried with these being stowed to the immediate rear of the cab under cover.

The baseline MOBAT has a standard gun sight but options include the integration of an automatic gunlaying and navigation system coupled with an onboard computerised fire-control system.

For the Far East trials, MOBAT was fitted with the BAE Systems Laser Inertial Pointing System (LINAPS) of which 137 have now been supplied for installation on the BAE Systems Land Systems 105 mm Light Guns of the Royal Artillery.

LINAPS provides the precise location of the MOBAT with a route navigation capability and also provides the gun crew with orientation and location data without the requirement for the standard sighting system.

The complete MOBAT system is of modular construction and can be removed from the vehicle in one hour so that the vehicle can be converted rapidly back into a truck.

When travelling, the complete weapon would normally be traversed to the rear and when being transported by air, for example in a Lockheed Martin C-130 transport aircraft, it would normally be traversed to the front and offset slightly to the right.

Although the prototype MOBAT is based on a DAF YA4440 4 tonne (4 × 4) truck, this was only selected by RDM Technology as quantities of these were available in the Netherlands. The weapon system can be mounted on a wide range of other 4×4 chassis.