Lockheed Martin enhances munition range with ER GMLRS test success.

On March 7, 2024, Lockheed Martin announced the successful testing of its Extended-Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (ER GMLRS) against a set of targets. Conducted at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the test significantly doubled the munitions' range, marking a considerable advancement in modern armament.
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Lockheed Martin's extended-range GMLRS enhances U.S. Army's firepower by doubling munition range (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)

During this demonstration, two ER GMLRS rockets were fired from the US Army's HIMARS launcher, achieving unprecedented distances while maintaining perfect accuracy and flight trajectory, meeting the missile's performance criteria. Jay Price, Vice President of Precision Fires at Lockheed Martin, highlighted the importance of these test results, stating that the operational assessment underscores the ER GMLRS's maturity and the capabilities of the company's munitions family.

This milestone follows the US Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $4.79 billion contract last year for the production of two full-rate production lots of GMLRS rockets and associated equipment.
Beyond the immediate success of the test, the operational demonstration brings ER GMLRS closer to deployment and mass production. With plans to manufacture the rockets at Lockheed Martin's Precision Fires Center of Excellence in Camden, Arkansas, the company is well-prepared to meet the increasing demand for advanced munitions systems.

Lockheed Martin's commitment to munitions production is well-established, evidenced by the production of over 70,000 GMLRS rounds. Through annual contracts, the company continues to provide integrated logistics support for the US Army, US Marine Corps, and international customers, ensuring the continued availability and reliability of these systems.

In 2025, Australia will begin production of GMLRS munitions under an A$37.4 million contract with Lockheed Martin Australia, marking the start of its first GMLRS missile manufacturing.

The MLRS Family of Munitions (MFOM) encompasses a wide range of precision-strike rockets and missiles, undergoing continuous development to meet the evolving needs of modern warfare. These cost-effective, low-risk munitions minimize collateral damage and offer a persistent, all-weather, long-range, rapidly deployable precision-strike capability, launchable from both MLRS M270 and HIMARS launch systems.

With over 60,000 GMLRS rockets produced, boasting a reliability rate of over 98%, the lineup includes the GMLRS Unitary with a 200-pound warhead and a range of over 70 kilometers, the GMLRS Alternative Warhead designed to target areas without the risk of unexploded ordnance, and the developing Extended-Range (ER) GMLRS, extending the reach up to 150 kilometers, enhancing operational flexibility and threat response.

Defense News March 2024