IHS Jane’s 360:
Lockheed Martin on 29 July conducted the first controlled vehicle test flight of redesigned version of its Miniature Hit-to-Kill (MHTK) semi-active radar homing missile as part of the US Army’s Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Centre’s (AMRDEC’s) Extended Area Protection and Survivability (EAPS) Science & Technology (S&T) programme.
MHTK is a compact counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM)-optimised interceptor, developed by Lockheed Martin for the EAPS S&T initiative, to deliver area protection against proliferating high volume, low technology threats in theatre.
The original MHTK solution for EAPS S&T was just under 68.6 cm in length, approximately 40 mm in diameter, and with a launch weight of about 2.2 kg.
Intended to deliver greater agility, the new design sees an increase in the length of the airframe to just over 71.1 cm, but with no change in weight, and a slightly sharper front end. Four additional fins have been added to the rear of the missile – forward of, and cropped at 45º to the original four fins – with their trailing edge, and the leading edge of the original fins, more or less aligned. Both sets of rear fins are aligned with the forward canard assembly. Chris Murphy, Lockheed Missiles & Fire Control Business Development lead for MHTK said that the modifications improve by 30-40% MHTK’s agility to meet anticipated needs for increased capability beyond what was envisioned at the beginning of the S&T programme…
