No place to hide

has unveiled P44, a company-funded effort to demonstrate a long range strike missile for quick precision strike against moving surface targets under any battlefield conditions without minimum range limitations.

P44, a seven-inch diameter 220-pound missile with an effective range from zero to more than 70 kilometres, is a next generation missile system. It can be launched from an MLRS multiple launch platform, including HIMARS, the newest generation of highly transportable multiple rocket launch platforms.

‘We believe that by coupling mature missile and seeker technology with the combat-proven HIMARS launcher, we can offer an affordable, low-risk, fast, precision-strike solution to the moving target problem, without additional equipment or force structure,’ said Glenn Kuller, director of Tactical Missiles Advanced Programs for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

P44 was designed to respond to a gap in the ability to effectively engage and neutralise rapidly proliferating long-range artillery, particularly mobile rocket launchers.

'This gap against fleeting targets is difficult to fill using projected munitions. However, merging a fast boost-sustain motor, an adverse weather terminal seeker and HIMARS, will offer the army a badly needed solution," added Kuller. 'With P44, aggressors cannot hide behind the weather, nor can they escape.'