Raytheon is working on a line of tiny guided missiles it hopes to sell to the U.S. Army and other allied armies.
The laser-guided munition is just 17 inches long. Raytheon is developing the Pike with its own money to meet a growing demand for precision, targeted strikes that leave minimal collateral damage such as death or injury to civilians or property damage.
The company’s director of advanced land-warfare systems told the Arizona Daily Starthe weapon could be used against insurgents, in light vehicles or people planting improvised explosive devices.
He said the weapon needs to be very precise to obtain the needed measured effect. Raytheon has already had some success with its Griffin missile, which mounts aboard a fixed wing gunship.
The company is also developing a 2-foot guided bomb.