26 March 2025

Backpack Missiles?

This video (from "The Expanse") depicting a space marine whose backpack emits small guided missiles that destroy nearby targets, is actually a plausible future military technology.

These micro-missiles bear some similarity to the NAVAIR Spike missiles in the real world. This shoulder fired missile, which cost $5,000 each, weighs a little over 5 pounds (with the launcher plus missile at 10 pounds), is 25" long, is a little more than 2" in diameter, and has a range of about 2 miles. Its warhead has 1 pound of explosives. It is designed for use in urban warfare with less collateral damage and against unarmored vehicles, launched by infantry or smaller UAVs. It appears to have completed testing, but it isn't clear that it has been used in combat yet.

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