• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • Beretta pistolPyramyd AIR’s Beretta 92A1 CO2 Powered Full-Auto BB Pistol
        • m243The M24: America’s Headhunter
        • skorpFull-Auto Fun — Shooting the full-Auto vz. 61 Škorpion
        • p320-full-leftSIG Sauer M17/M18/P320 Pistol Just Can’t Seem to Escape Safety Controversies
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • Viking-Bags Logo 2Pic of the Day, Viking Motorcycle Bags 45L Tactical XL Bag
        • Hunting in TexasThese 5 ATV Dealers Will Get You Ready For Hunting Season in Texas
        • ac65a540-2ef3-4598-8d11-afdf53f46e94.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
        • Bluetti 2 handsfree power backpackBluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • BullFrog 2024Bullfrog by Allen Control Systems: AI Meets Firepower
        • Neoron Energy DrinkNeoron Brain Booster Review: A Clean Hit of Focus
        • Viking-Bags Logo 2Pic of the Day, Viking Motorcycle Bags 45L Tactical XL Bag
        • Tom and Blake Sell TeaHow Sasquatch Tea Is Revitalizing a Stagnant Tea Market With Veterans and Outdoorsmen in Mind
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Buying Guides
  • Shop
  • Advertise
News

Raytheon Pike Miniaturized Missile

October 14, 2015 by Scott Witner Leave a Comment

Raytheon Pike Miniaturized Missile

17 inches of computer and laser guided destruction in the palm of your hand.

As technology evolves, so do our weapon systems. It’s quite astonishing if you look at the rocket systems used in the past and look at what Raytheon has now accomplished. We’ve been able to take the technology used in larger aircraft based missiles and smart bombs, and shoved it into a precision guided handheld missile that will fit directly into your M320 rifle mounted grenade launcher.

From Raytheon:

“We’ve really come far. Now we have, basically, a smart munition you can hold in the palm of your hand,” said a former U.S Army Special Forces Soldier who now manages the Pike program for Raytheon.

What is the Pike?

Lets take a look at some of the technical specs of this deadly technology: For more detailed technical information refer to the Pike project on the Raytheon website.

Length: 17″ – That’s right; only 17″! Imagine the kind of fire power that a single operator could carry into combat inside their ruck.

Weight: Each munition weighs in at only 2 pounds. One of the benefits we see with technology improving is reduced weight of weapon systems and gear.

Guidance and Accuracy: The Pike uses a laser guided technology that can be deployed with either a single gunner or a two-man gunner team. Raytheon recently had two successful tests where the Pike traveled more than 2300 yards and impacted within 5 yards of the intended target. For more detailed information on the actual test go HERE.

Raytheon Pike Miniaturized Missile
Image courtesy of Raytheon.com

 

Raytheon Pike Miniaturized Missile
Image courtesy of defensetech.org

What are the benefits of this to our military?

The first thing that came to mind was weight and portability. For light infantry and SOF units this is a huge advantage. Having the ability to carry several of these in your ruck can be a battlefield multiplier without breaking your back. By using the already available M320 rifle mounted grenade launchers, units now can have a long-range precision guided weapon at their disposal for recon or direct action missions. Being that the Pike is so man portable is another advantage over other older weapon systems and technologies. With this smaller laser guided munition you’re not dependent on a separate launching platform or vehicle.

Shoulder fired rockets have mostly consisted of AT4s and the M72 LAW anti tank rockets, but the disadvantage to those was once fired you’re done. It made little sense to carry more than one of those due to the size and weight. Along with the AT4, we also carried the M16A2 with an attached M203 grenade launcher. At the time we thought it was pretty damn cool to launch a 40mm grenade a few hundred meters; although not very accurate. With the Pike these issues have been effectively solved. Our ground forces now have an effective option to pit against our enemies who use RPGs or other similar platforms. The operator could potentially launch several long-range precision strikes within a reasonable amount of time if close air support is not available for whatever reason.

(Featured image courtesy of defense-update.com)

Share This

About the Author

Scott Witner is the Editor of The Loadout Room and handles product sourcing for both Crate Club and Cuna Dog. He is a former Marine Corps Infantryman with 2ndBn/8th Marines and was attached to the 24th MEU(SOC) for a 6 month deployment to the Mediterranean. He has completed training in desert warfare at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, mountain warfare and survival at the Mountain Warfare Training Center and attended the South Korean Mountain Warfare school in Pohang.

See All Scott Witner Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Read

  • UF PRO Striker TT Combat Pants: Built for the Tropics, Ready for the Fight
    UF PRO Striker TT Combat Pants: Built for the Tropics, Ready for the Fight
  • Black Widow and the Brain: Palladyne and Red Cat Prove the Future Is Autonomous
    Black Widow and the Brain: Palladyne and Red Cat Prove the Future Is Autonomous
  • Honoring John Taffin and Mike “Duke” Venturino with Some Big-Bore Magnum Revolver Blastin'
    Honoring John Taffin and Mike “Duke” Venturino with Some Big-Bore Magnum Revolver Blastin'
  • The Winchester .30-30 Lever Action: America’s Classic Deer Rifle with a Legacy That Won’t Die
    The Winchester .30-30 Lever Action: America’s Classic Deer Rifle with a Legacy That Won’t Die
  • Tisas 1911A1 U.S. Army Review: Best Budget .45 ACP WW2 1911 Clone?
    Tisas 1911A1 U.S. Army Review: Best Budget .45 ACP WW2 1911 Clone?

Find Us on Facebook

Recent Comments

  • MiserDD on How The Beretta PX4 Storm’s Rotating Barrel Works
  • blucorsair on .40 S&W: Is it the Ideal cartridge for personal defense?
  • Stepvenlau on Different Types of Rifle Scopes and How to Choose One

Latest From SOFREP

News

Evening Brief: Hamas Seeks Release of Top Palestinian Prisoners, Putin Visits Tajikistan for Regional Summit

The Pic of the Day

SOF Pic of the Day: “Will Control for Food” – Hunger in the Ranks

Editorial

After Quantico: Inside the Quiet Revolt Brewing Among America’s Flag Officers

World

USMC Colonel (Ret.) Eric Buer: The Rejection of Peace in Our Time – Why the Latest Gaza Ceasefire Will Likely Fail

Military Content Group

© Copyright 2025 Military Content Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers
 

Loading Comments...