View source for LLR 81mm

{{Infobox weapon|is_artillery=yes|is_UK=yes
|image=[[File:French Army's 1st Infantry Regiment (Cold Response 2022).jpg|300px|]]
|caption=Mo 81 LLR of the French Army 1st Infantry Regiment during Exercise Cold Response (Norway, 2022)
|name=Mortier de 81mm léger long renforcé
|type=[[Mortar (weapon)|Mortar]] 
|origin=France
|design_date= 1997
|production_date=1997 - present
|number=
|service=
|used_by=[[#Users|''See users'']]
|wars={{ubl|[[Battle of Kolwezi]]<small> (MO-81-61-C)</small>|[[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]<ref name="TDA">{{cite web|title=MO 81MM LLR|url=http://www.tda-armements.com/content/mo-81mm-llr|website=tda-armements.com|access-date=4 March 2019|archive-date=6 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043119/http://www.tda-armements.com/content/mo-81mm-llr|url-status=dead}}</ref>|[[Northern Mali Conflict]]<ref name="TDA"/>|[[Central African Republic Civil War (2012–present)|Central African Civil War]]<ref name="TDA"/>}}
|caliber={{convert|81|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|part_length={{convert|1639|mm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight={{convert|45.2|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (total)<br>{{convert|18.3|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (barrel)<br>{{convert|12.6|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (bipod)<br>{{convert|14.6|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (base)
|cartridge=
|ammo_wt=
|velocity=
|range={{convert|3,100|m|yd|abbr=on}} with model 1944 shell.<br />
{{convert|5,600|m|yd|abbr=on}} with special ammunition.
|rate=12 to 20 rpm.
|crew=5 men
|breech=
|recoil=
|carriage=
|elevation=
|traverse=
|}}
The '''''Mortier de 81mm léger long renforcé''''' (LLR 81&nbsp;mm) is a mortar used by the French Army, manufactured by [[Thales Group|Thales]]. Introduced in 1997, it is the latest iteration of the TDA 81&nbsp;mm light mortar family.<ref name="Janes 2002"/>

== Description ==
The original TDA 81&nbsp;mm was designed in 1961 (hence the MO-81-61 designation). Since then, three variants have been fielded:
* the 81mm LC or MO-81-61-C (''Léger court'', "light short"), with a 1.15-metre barrel;
* the 81mm LL or MO-81-61-L (''Léger long'', "light long"), with a 1.55-metre barrel;
* the 81mm LLR (''Léger long renforcé'', "light long reinforced"), paratrooper version with a 1.55-metre barrel.<ref name="Janes 2002">{{cite encyclopedia|title=TDA 81 mm light mortars|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n1841|pages=1841–1842|date=4 June 2001|first1=Terry J. |last1=Gander}}</ref>

The LLR 81mm is composed of a base plate, a barrel comprising the breech, and a bipod. It can use the same pointing optics as the [[Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1|MO-120-RT-61]].<ref name="defense"/>

The LLR 81mm can be parachuted either piece by piece, in a kit comprising a dismantled weapon and ammunition, or in larger crates comprising several weapons. The barrel was reinforced so as to allow firing of all existing 81&nbsp;mm mortar ammunition.<ref name="defense"/>

==Users==
* {{flag|Benin}}: MO-81-61<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Benin|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n949|page=949|date=22 November 2000|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref>
*{{FRA}}: MO-81-61-C<ref name="Wiener 1987"/> and MO-81-LLR (2 per infantry company of the French Army in the 2010s)<ref name="defense">{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/equipements/materiels-specifiques/infanterie/armement/mortier-81-mm-llr|title=Mortier 81 mm LLR|date=13 July 2016|website=defense.gouv.fr}}</ref>
*{{IRL}}: light long-barrel version<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126115206/http://military.ie/army/equipment/weapons/inf/81mm/81mm.htm|url=http://military.ie/army/equipment/weapons/inf/81mm/81mm.htm|archive-date=26 November 2010|title=Army Weapons - 81 mm mortar|website=military.ie}}</ref>
* {{ITA}}: MO-81-LL built under license by [[OTO Melara]]<ref name="Janes Italian">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Italian mortars|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 1994-1995|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n2977|pages=2977–2978|date=27 April 1994|first1=Terry J. |last1=Gander}}</ref><ref name="Wiener 1987">{{cite book|title=The armies of the NATO nations: Organization, concept of war, weapons and equipment|series=Truppendienst Handbooks Volume 3|year= 1987|first=Friedrich |last=Wiener |page=464|publisher=Herold Publishers|location=Vienna}}</ref>
* {{KUW}}: South African M8 mortar<ref name="Janes South Africa"/>
* {{MAS}}: South African M8 mortar version
* {{PAK}}: MO-81-LL built under license<ref name="Janes Pakistan">{{cite encyclopedia|title=81 mm light mortar|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n3218|pages=3218–3219|date=4 June 2001|first1=Terry J. |last1=Gander}}</ref>
* {{flag|Peru}}: South African M8 mortar<ref name="Janes South Africa"/>
* {{flag|South Africa}}: MO-81-61 produced by Vektor as '''M3 mortar''' and '''M8 mortar''' (upgraded variant with heavier barrel).<ref name="Janes South Africa">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Vektor 81 mm M3 mortar|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n4024|pages=4024–4025|date=4 June 2001|first1=Terry J. |last1=Gander}}</ref>

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Mortier 81 LLR}}
== Bibliography ==
{{reflist}}

{{Current French infantry weapons}}

[[Category:Mortars of France]]
[[Category:Post–Cold War artillery of France]]
[[Category:Infantry mortars]]
[[Category:81mm mortars]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1990s]]