82 mm mortar 2B9 Vasilek

The 2B9 Vasilek (Russian: Василек) is a Soviet 82 mm automatic mortar. Development began in 1967 on the basis of the F-82 automatic mortar, and it was put into service in 1970.

The 2B9 Vasilek mortar is loaded with a cassette, with four mines per cassette. The mortar has two firing modes: single and automatic. The mortar barrel is smooth.

• 2B9 - water-cooled version of the barrel (water casing)
• 2B9M - version with air cooling of the barrel - the barrel wall in the middle part is thickened and has ribs.

In 2019, the Ukrainian enterprise Artillery Arms Design Bureau began production of barrels for 2B9 Vasylok mortars. The barrel has the designation KBA.152 and was presented at the company’s stand during the XVI International Specialized Exhibition “Arms and Security” in 2019. The barrel is 1600 mm long and weighs 38.5 kg.

Russian-Ukrainian war
The 2B9 "Vasilek" has been used by both sides in the Russian-Ukrainian War since 2014.
In particular, in August 2022, the mortar operators of the Ukrainian 22nd Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion destroyed a Russian MT-LB with the 2B9.