DSEI 2025: ISTEC Showcase Their New & Improved Mk2 Soft Mount
While a soft mount may not seem like the most exciting thing in the world, if you've ever gotten behind a .50 (of any description) for more than a couple of rounds then you know where the utility comes in. ISTEC Services have been manufacturing soft mounts for heavy machine guns for several decades and have recently released their product improved Mk2 version. At DSEI 2025, in London, we got a chance to have a look at the Mk2 up close and chat to ISTEC about the improvements made over the earlier versions.
ISTEC says that thousands of their soft mounts have been in service with NATO members since the 1990s. The MK2 is actually based on a lot of feedback provided by the Belgian Armed Forces and the Falklands Islands Defence Force. ISTEC has also supplied universal weapon mounts for British armoured vehicles such as the Mastiff, Husky, and Jackal which were extensively used on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Just as with the MK1 the weapon is held securely in the mount via the M2's standard front and rear mounting points and is controlled by the twin handles at the rear of the mount. ISTEC argues that the handles give the user total control of the mount in azimuth and elevation, plus there is an alternate firing lever attached to the handle on the right side allowing the operator to fire the weapon without removing their hands from the handles. The mount can also be fitted with a shoulder brace or tiller that allows the operator to aim and move the weapon with their body more naturally. This all helps to minimise operator fatigue.
With the MK2 there have been some ergonomic improvements made with the manual safety latch moved to the left where it’s more visible and interacts directly with the sear. The modular design allows for an optional spent case and collection system to be clipped into position if required, as well as a ready round tray.
The soft mount is designed primarily for mounting Browning M2-pattern 12.7mm heavy machine guns including M2 CQB, M3D and M3M variants. ISTEC have also developed a new adaptor plate for the mount which now allows the mount to be used with a 70mm rocket system. The rocket system was shown at ISTEC’s stand both mounted on a tripod (with a Thales 70mm rocket system) and on the pintle mount of a vehicle. This, in theory, allows the rapid mounting of a rocket launching system onto light vehicles or ground positions simply by using the ISTEC mounting plate. The soft mount then helps minimise any recoil and can be reloaded quickly.
It would seem that one potential future use for the adaptor plate might be to incorporate a mounting method for recoilless weapons like the 84mm Carl Gustav. In light of recent US and wider-NATO concerns about TBIs arising from the use of recoilless systems, another niche use for the ISTEC soft mount may be to mount these systems on vehicles.
Managing Editor: TheFirearmBlog.com & Overt Defense.com. Matt is a British historian specialising in small arms development and military history. He has written several books and for a variety of publications in both the US and UK. Matt is also runs The Armourer's Bench, a video series on historically significant small arms. Here on TFB he covers product and current military small arms news. Reach Matt at: matt@thefirearmblog.com
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