“Mini Missile” Can Defend Against Artillery and Mortar Threats

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When the term “missile” comes to mind, most people usually imagine a very large rocket with the capability to destroy a neighborhood. Lockheed Martin, however, thinks differently. The company has developed a miniature Hit-To-Kill missile that is used to defend critical areas against rocket attacks, mortar launches, and even bomb carrying drones.

Lockheed is one of several other companies competing for military contracts in the U.S. Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability Program. The point of the program is to call for systems to defend against artillery, mortar, and rocket strikes. They ideal systems that the Army is looking for should be compact, precise, affordable, and fast.

The mini missile stands at about two and a half feet and weighs only five pounds. The system is equipped with an advanced radio frequency seeker that is used for tracking and hitting high speed threats. In contrast to other missile defense systems, Lockheed’s missile destroys the threat by directly hitting it and not by exploding in the vicinity of the threat.

This strategy of threat interception reduces the risk of collateral damage as well as allows for more maneuverable and less expensive missiles. Since the missile doesn’t use explosives, then there is no need for larger rocket motors, thus keeping the missile small and maneuverable.

All of the missile’s components can be fitted in a tube just 1.5 inches in diameter. This includes the detection and control systems, fuel supply, rocket motor, and the dense mass that allows the rocket to have enough mass for the kill.

The missile can be launched from the typical truck mounted rocket launcher, although officials at Lockheed say that even smaller systems could work.

The Army will award contracts to the program finalists by the beginning of next year to further develop their systems. In testing, Wired.com reports that Lockheed’s missile has already managed to successfully intercept various targets within a four square mile area around the launch point.

The Army is aiming to use such a system by the year 2022.