General Atomics Test Fires New Precision-Guided Artillery Round Increasing Range and Accuracy.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems successfully fired its Long Range Maneuvering Projectile from a U.S. Army M777 towed howitzer at Yuma Proving Ground. The test confirmed extended-range accuracy and control, signaling a major advance in precision artillery for U.S. ground forces.

Washington D.C, United States, October 19, 2025 - General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has completed a milestone demonstration of its Long Range Maneuvering Projectile (LRMP), firing multiple guided rounds from a U.S. Army M777 155mm howitzer at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. Conducted in August, the test validated the projectile’s full flight performance, including sabot separation, wing deployment, and precision-guided maneuvering—showing how legacy artillery can evolve into long-range precision strike weapons.
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U.S. Army M777 howitzer during a live-fire exercise. While not shown, the Long Range Maneuvering Projectile (LRMP) was recently test-fired from this platform, marking a major milestone in extended-range precision artillery development.  (Picture source: U.S. Department of War and Army Recognition Group)

Unlike traditional 155mm munitions that rely on ballistic trajectories and passive range extension, the LRMP is designed as an actively guided, maneuvering glide weapon. It features deployable wings and onboard control systems that allow it to steer mid-flight, enabling deep engagement of targets well beyond the reach of standard artillery. Crucially, it operates without GPS dependency, relying instead on internal navigation and inertial guidance systems capable of withstanding degraded or contested electromagnetic environments, a priority for U.S. forces facing adversaries like Russia and China.

The test firing used M231 propellant charges, widely available within current Army stockpiles, emphasizing the system’s compatibility with legacy artillery supply chains and its ability to be fielded quickly. Each round transitioned smoothly from spin-stabilized launch to guided glide phase, validating years of aerodynamic modeling and wind-tunnel testing. The use of the M777 platform, a lightweight, towed howitzer still in widespread service, confirms GA-EMS’s intention to provide a near-term solution without requiring wholesale fleet replacement.

GA-EMS President Scott Forney described the milestone as a proof point for affordable precision firepower in an era of increasingly contested battlespace, stressing the importance of precision-guided, mass-producible munitions for near-peer conflict scenarios. “This is not about exotic one-off capabilities,” Forney stated. “It’s about bringing practical, scalable solutions to the front lines, and proving they can perform in extreme conditions.”

The LRMP represents a new class of artillery that blends the economics and logistics of traditional tube-launched firepower with the precision and control typically associated with missile systems. Compared to standard 155mm rounds, which typically achieve ranges of 30 kilometers and rely on unguided or minimally guided ballistic paths, the LRMP is engineered to reach over 100 kilometers with precision strike capability and in-flight maneuverability. That translates to more than a threefold increase in range, alongside a dramatic enhancement in accuracy and survivability. Where traditional rounds may achieve circular error probable (CEP) of 50 to 100 meters or more, the LRMP aims to reduce that figure to under 10 meters even in contested environments. This leap in performance enables artillery crews to strike high-value or mobile targets that would have previously required air or missile assets.

Behind the scenes, Army Recognition has learned that the U.S. Army and Navy are jointly evaluating LRMP derivatives for multi-domain applications. The Navy, in particular, is exploring LRMP variants for ship-launched use as part of its Common Round Initiative. Sources close to the program have confirmed that the August test data will feed directly into future warfighter evaluations, with extended-range trials scheduled before the end of FY2026 at both Yuma and White Sands.

For artillery planners, the operational impact of LRMP lies in its ability to close the fire gap between cannon artillery and long-range precision fires such as the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). By enabling precision engagements at theater-relevant distances, it reduces the burden on rocket artillery while dramatically improving survivability and flexibility for frontline artillery crews. In tactical terms, the M777 battery that can deliver guided munitions at 100 plus kilometers while remaining dispersed and mobile fundamentally reshapes battlefield dynamics.

GA-EMS has also emphasized the LRMP’s adaptability for future payloads, including sensor-fused warheads, electronic warfare modules, or ISR packages. Its modular architecture opens the door to multi-role variants that could support deep fires, anti-armor strikes, or even communications disruption in contested zones.

What remains to be seen is how fast the Department of Defense moves from test validation to full-scale acquisition. While the LRMP has already proven itself as a technology demonstrator, the leap to Program of Record status will depend on further testing, budget alignment, and joint-service buy-in. However, with its test performance aligning closely with predictive simulations, the trajectory toward operational deployment appears increasingly inevitable.

In the broader context of U.S. artillery modernization, the successful LRMP trial signals a shift away from static, shell-based doctrines toward smart, guided munitions designed for tomorrow’s multi-domain fight. At a time when adversaries are deploying mobile air defenses, counter-battery radars, and anti-access strategies, the ability to deliver low-signature, maneuverable precision fires from existing platforms offers a vital new capability, one that the U.S. Army may soon find indispensable.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.