Predator to Receive new Warhead Optimized for Urban Warfare

Released on Thursday, June 10, 2004

The Lockheed-Martin Corporation has announced that it will retrofit existing US Marine Corps Predator Short Range Assault Weapon (SRAW) with a new blast-fragmentation multi-purpose warhead suitable for urban warfare scenario.

The multi-purpose variant blast fragmentation warhead is intended to defeat urban targets such as bunkers and buildings, as well as light armored vehicles. This decision has been taken due to US military experience gained in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The new Predator direct attack variant will be renamed the Short Range Assault Weapon Multi-Purpose Variant or SRAW-MPV. The retrofit effort is expected to run through the end of 2004. Predator rounds from LRIP I, already delivered, and LRIP II, currently in production, contracts will be modified to the SRAW-MPV variant totaling approximately 700 rounds.

The SRAW-MPV direct-fire urban assault weapon retains Predator's man-portability, fire and forget inertial guidance, point-and-shoot system, and launch from enclosures features. The weapon is expected to be available for US Marines deployed in Iraq before the end of 2004.

The US Army and US allies have requirements for weaponry suited to urban areas which could be met by Lockheed-Martin's SRAW-MPV direct-fire weapon.