OVERVIEW: A high-explosive, free-falling indirect-fire 120 mm munition adapted for air delivery from UAVs or light aircraft. Intended for use against personnel, light vehicles, and soft area targets.

DETAIL: Originally developed for conventional mortar systems, the 120mm HE round has been adapted by various armed forces and UAV manufacturers for vertical air-drop deployment without a propellant charge. These air-dropped versions retain the fin-stabilized tail section and high-fragmentation body but are released in free-fall from UAV platforms such as the Yabhon United 40 (x 10 rounds) or similar systems. The shell's lethal radius remains comparable to ground-launched versions, typically around 40 meters for personnel.

When dropped from low or medium altitudes, these rounds rely solely on gravity and ballistic descent. They are not guided and are dispersed in salvo patterns to increase effectiveness over wider areas. UAVs can carry multiple mortar bombs for persistent and flexible strike missions.

This method offers a low-cost precision-agnostic strike capability suitable for asymmetric warfare, COIN operations, and target saturation without requiring complex targeting systems or guided munitions.

NOTE:
IOC: ~2018
Operators: UAE, Algeria, others (via Yabhon United 40 and variants)
Platforms: Yabhon United 40 (Algeria designated El‑Djazair‑54) 
Combat Use: Evaluated in regional conflicts and live-fire exercises

SOURCE:
UAE Armed Forces Technical Exhibition 2017 ; Jane’s UAV & Target Systems ; Air & Space Power Journal, UAE Edition ; Algerian Defense Industry Reports ; https://www.tawazun.ae