Raytheon has developed a mini-rocket called Pike to offer infantry units a cost-effective long-range anti-personnel capability.
The PGM-ER Pike is a 40mm system that can be launched from a M320 or ELGM grenade launcher and weighs just 1.7lb.
It is designed for infantry or SF squads so they can have a light-weight munition capable of matching adversaries equipped with RPGs.
James Smith, director of Advanced Land Warfare Systems at Raytheon, told Shephard that Pike has a small propellant to ‘kick’ the round out of the tube. It has a semi-active laser and can follow a laser designated target.
Pike can
Already have an account? Log in
The new artillery and howitzer factory pre-dates the emphasis on this capability from this month’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The first joint industry-government meeting outlined in the review took place this week.
Romania received its first Cobra MkII 4×4 light tactical armoured vehicles, ordered Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) and VAMTAC light vehicles, and is set to invest billions-of-dollars in infantry fighting vehicles.
The Italian Army operates Pumas in 6×6 and 4×4 configurations but the platforms are ageing and numbers have fallen with obsolescence also being an issue. Any replacement is likely to have a focus on the involvement of local industry.
The VAMTAC (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico or High Mobility Tactical Vehicle) 4×4 by Urovesa is in service with or has been ordered by eight countries, the most recent being Spain this month and Romania last month.
Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile with the solid rocket motor (SRM) provided by Northrop Grumman. The company is working to boost its SRM production capability.
The CV90 is in service with or ordered by ten countries. The agreement between six of these countries is designed to create commonality to provide economies of scale and a reduced training burden.
Connect with us on socials
