KIEV, Ukraine, March 7 (UPI) -- Ukraine's Ukroboronprom's Mayak business unit has delivered its initial batch of new 120mm Molot mortars to the country's military.

The mortar system has a firing rate of about 12 rounds a minute, a range of more than 4 miles and weighs about 462 pounds.


"New mortar received many positive reviews of military and technical experts," said Oleksandr Peregudov, director of Mayak. "Now Molot can represent its tremendous opportunities in actual fighting. The plant "Mayak" is ready to meet the needs of the army in this armament type."

The new mortar system successfully completed testing last month at a proving ground in Ukraine's Chernihiv region, Ukroboronprom said.

Ukroboronprom increased production of arms and military equipment in 2015 following Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and violence in eastern Ukraine by Russian-backed separatists.

Information as to the number of 120mm mortars being produced was not given.