Lockheed Martin has demonstrated a new way to redirect a missile after it has been fired, potentially giving U.S. Army units greater control over precision strikes. The test showed that an existing Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missile can change target in flight and destroy a moving target.
The demonstration took place at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Lockheed Martin worked with the U.S. Army to integrate a communications link and guidance system into the missile’s existing architecture. The approach could help the Army adapt its precision fire capabilities without requiring a fundamental redesign of the weapon.
Redirect missiles in flight
The test began with a GMLRS missile fired from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). After launch, the team used Lockheed Martin’s Strigo datalink and Remote Interceptor Guidance-360 (RIG-360) system to send updated targeting information to the missile.
The missile then adjusted its target assignment and successfully hit a moving target. The result showed how communication between a weapon and external targeting systems can influence a fight after the missile has left its carrier.
Conventional rocket artillery missions rely heavily on targeting information obtained prior to firing. Updating this information in flight provides another level of flexibility, particularly if a target changes position or battlefield conditions change.
Lockheed Martin funded the integration work internally. The focus of the demonstration was on linking existing technologies rather than developing an entirely new rocket. This distinction could make the approach relevant to weapons already in the Army’s inventory.
Networked kill chain
The test also suggests a broader shift in the way the Army might coordinate precision strikes. Networked targeting allows information from sensors and other combat devices to reach weapon systems, potentially helping commanders respond to changing threats.
A moving target presents a different challenge than a stationary aiming point. Its position can change between launch and impact, so updated information is valuable during a fight. Updating in-flight targeting could provide commanders with another option when an original fire plan no longer meets battlefield conditions.
This capability does not eliminate the need for accurate targeting data or reliable communications. Its practical value depends on how effectively the systems exchange information under operating conditions. Nevertheless, the successful demonstration provides evidence that existing rocket artillery can support more dynamic targeting methods.
Randy Crites, vice president of Lockheed Martin Advanced Programs, said the integration brings together established company technologies to give troops more flexibility. He also emphasized the importance of integrating proven systems to help commanders respond to complex combat situations.
Future rockets could benefit from this
The same integration package could go beyond the standard GMLRS. Lockheed Martin identified Extended Range GMLRS and the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) as potential applications for the technology.
Extended range GMLRS is designed to reach targets beyond the range of the standard missile. PrSM is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile designed for the Army’s HIMARS and M270 delivery platforms. Applying similar networking capabilities to these weapons could expand the possibilities for precision engagements.
However, the demonstration does not prove that every compatible weapon can receive in-flight targeting updates. Each application would require appropriate integration and testing before operational use.
The key technical challenge is to connect weapons to a larger targeting network without replacing their underlying designs. If further testing validates the approach, the Army could gain more flexibility from its existing launchers and munitions while preparing future precision fire systems for increasingly mobile threats on the battlefield.
