General Atomics is advancing a novel concept that could redefine U.S. long-range fires by integrating its Long-Range Maneuvering Projectile (LRMP) submunitions into existing missile systems like the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). This effort aims to transform traditional ballistic missile payloads into intelligent swarms of loitering munitions capable of engaging dispersed or mobile targets deep behind enemy lines.
Multi-Packed Loitering Submunitions for Precision Engagement
The core innovation lies in General Atomics’ development of a compact loitering munition—the LRMP—that can be “multi-packed” inside existing missile bodies. Each GMLRS rocket or PrSM round could potentially carry multiple LRMPs in place of a unitary warhead or traditional submunition payloads. Once deployed mid-flight or near the target area, these autonomous projectiles would disperse and seek out individual targets using onboard sensors and guidance systems.
This approach draws on lessons from recent conflicts—particularly Ukraine—where loitering munitions have proven effective against high-value mobile assets such as air defense radars, artillery systems, and command nodes. By combining the range and speed of ballistic missiles with the terminal flexibility of drone-like submunitions, General Atomics aims to deliver a hybrid capability that bridges the gap between traditional fires and unmanned aerial systems.
Platform Compatibility: GMLRS and PrSM as Delivery Vehicles
The two primary delivery platforms under consideration are Lockheed Martin’s GMLRS (used in HIMARS/MLRS launchers) and the emerging PrSM missile intended to replace ATACMS. Both systems offer substantial range—GMLRS up to ~80 km (with ER variants reaching 150+ km), while PrSM Block 1 is expected to exceed 499 km under INF Treaty constraints removal.
By leveraging these existing platforms already fielded by the U.S. Army and allied forces worldwide, General Atomics avoids the need for new launch infrastructure. The LRMPs would be integrated as modular payloads within standard missile canisters. This not only accelerates deployment timelines but also allows commanders to tailor effects based on mission needs—choosing between unitary warheads or distributed loitering effects from a common launcher.
LRMP Design Features: Autonomy, Endurance, Lethality
While detailed specifications remain classified or proprietary, available information suggests that each LRMP is a self-contained glide vehicle equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors for target acquisition and GPS/inertial navigation for midcourse guidance. The system likely incorporates autonomous decision-making algorithms to identify valid targets within a defined engagement zone while avoiding fratricide or civilian structures.
- Endurance: Estimated at several minutes of powered or gliding flight post-deployment
- Lethality: Designed for soft-to-medium armored targets; fragmentation or EFP warhead options possible
- Size: Small enough to allow multiple units per missile body—potentially up to six per GMLRS round
- Sensors: EO/IR seekers with potential AI-based target classification
- Communications: Likely includes datalink capability for retargeting or abort commands
The concept aligns with broader U.S. Department of Defense trends toward multi-domain autonomy and man-in-the-loop control architectures where desired. It also mirrors DARPA’s past work on programs like Cluster UAS Smart Munition Systems (CUSMS), which sought similar distributed precision effects from legacy platforms.
Tactical Implications: Swarming Fires Against Mobile Targets
The integration of LRMP into long-range missiles offers significant tactical advantages in modern battlefield environments characterized by mobility, dispersion, and electronic warfare threats. Traditional ballistic trajectories are predictable; adding maneuverable submunitions introduces uncertainty for enemy defenses while enabling last-minute course corrections toward time-sensitive targets.
This could prove especially valuable in anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) scenarios where fixed radar sites or mobile SAM batteries must be neutralized quickly before friendly aircraft enter contested airspace. Similarly, naval applications are plausible—especially if deployed via vertical launch cells aboard surface combatants—to saturate enemy ISR networks or coastal defenses.
Status of Development and Future Prospects
The concept remains in early stages but has reportedly undergone initial flight testing at Dugway Proving Ground under Army sponsorship. According to Naval News reporting from AUSA events in late FY2025, General Atomics has demonstrated successful separation sequences from surrogate rocket bodies as well as terminal homing behaviors from prototype LRMP units.
No formal program-of-record exists yet under PEO Missiles & Space; however, interest appears strong among both Army Futures Command’s Long Range Precision Fires Cross Functional Team (LRPF CFT) and Navy surface warfare offices exploring distributed maritime operations concepts.
If adopted at scale, this approach could complement other emerging systems like Northrop Grumman’s Switchblade variants or AeroVironment’s ALTIUS family—but with greater range due to its ballistic delivery mechanism rather than tube-launched UAV deployment alone.
