Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been awarded a contract to deliver its new backpack-portable missile to the US Army.
Called “Point Blank,” the missile is a hybrid electro-optically-guided weapon capable of engaging various enemy assets.
It provides tactical units with an independent, organic capability to increase their lethality.
The contract awarded by the US Department of Defense covers the rapid production of the weapon’s “ROC-X” version.
The weapon will be designed to meet the specific US requirements for small tactical teams.
The Point Blank System
Weighing only 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms), the Point Blank missile can fly at an altitude of more than 1,500 feet (457 meters) and a maximum speed of 178 miles (186 kilometers) per hour.
It can hover or loiter in the air while a target’s position is confirmed.
The weapon carries advanced electro-optical systems to collect real-time surveillance information.
IAI is also working on equipping the Point Blank with a warhead to destroy its targets with high precision.
The missile is designed to be hand-launched and operated by a single soldier, with the ability to take off from and land vertically back to the operator.
“Point Blank joins IAI’s family of missiles to provide ground-based tactical forces with more precise capabilities to undertake offensive operations especially against short-lived targets,” company official Guy Bar Lev said.
“IAI continues to develop and improve a wide range of offensive systems which provide precision operational solutions, and stands firmly to support our US customers.”
