Lockheed Martinez Introduces Affordable Cruise Missile under Multi-Tiered Strategy
Lockheed Martin Testing Affordable, Modular Cruise Missile for U.S. Air Force
AURORA, Colorado- Lockheed Martin is honing a new low-cost, adaptable cruise missile design, the Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT), while simultaneously building longer-range iterations of its high-end, stealthy weapon arsenal. The strategy aims to offer the Air Force a diverse array of affordable and state-of-the-art munitions.
The CMMT, internally referred to as "Comet," is expected to cost around $150,000 in its entry-level form. It boasts modularity and an open architecture, enabling it to carry various payloads—from sensors to warheads—as well as a fuel capacity tailored to mission requirements. Though the base CMMT is 96 inches long and fits in an F-35 weapon bay, it can be extended for additional fuel capacity. The missile remains subsonic, with a range estimated to be in the multiple hundreds of miles. Regardless of length, both ends of the CMMT remain the same.
Initial drop tests have been carried out, with more planned for the summer, according to Michael Rothstein, an executive at Lockheed Missiles and Fire Control. So far, drop tests have been vertical and nose-first, but for combat use, the CMMT would mount onto standard pylons or rotary launchers on bombers and fighters.
The Air Force has repeatedly signaled its desire for an affordable, mass-produceable weapon, with various initiatives in recent years. The most recent example is the Air Force's Enterprise Test Vehicle program, which aims to produce inexpensive, adaptable air vehicles. After initially awarding contracts for the program to four companies, the Air Force has selected Anduril Industries and Zone 5 Technologies to continue its development.
Competing with the Barracuda series, which shows similarities to the CMMT, is not a driving factor for Lockheed, according to Rothstein. Instead, the company is responding to the Air Force's demand for a low-cost, high-volume weapon while simultaneously meeting mission requirements. Producing the first CMMT within one year is conceivable.
High-End Weapons
Rothstein views the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and its long-range anti-ship counterpart (LRASM) as complementary to the CMMT, both in budgetary and operational terms. The CMMT will not prioritize stealth to keep costs down, leaving JASSM and LRASM to focus on stealthier, tougher targets. The JASSM and LRASM cost around $1.5 million each, approximately ten times the estimated cost of the CMMT.
The duo could potentially be employed together for optimal outcomes, as their unique capabilities could be leveraged synergistically. In past engagements, stealthy F-117s would often fly alongside F-16s, diverting the enemy's detection systems' attention. A similar approach might be employed in coordinated weapon strikes.
Low-End
For now, Lockheed is contemplating a facility in Camden, Arkansas, as the location for CMMT production. The appeal of the CMMT's modular design lies in its potential for elements to be constructed in various locations, including internationally, and later assembled in one factory.
"We envision a manufacturing approach that enables the liquid fuel and warhead to be added at the final stages," Rothstein said. With the modular nature of the CMMT, components can be quickly brought together from various locations. Moreover, "our concept is to house a factory within a single room," he added, making the system portable and adaptable to regional needs.
Lockheed does not have a contract for the CMMT, but it could fit into another round of the Enterprise Test Vehicle program or spin-off from another Lockheed effort, Rapid Dragon. Rapid Dragon tested pallets of JASSMs dropped from C-17 and C-130 aircraft, potentially expanding the Air Force's capabilities for volleys of cruise missiles launched from various platforms.
JASSM-XR
Lockheed unveiled the JASSM-XR during AFA's Air, Space, and Cyber conference last autumn. Longer than the JASSM-ER (Extended Range), the company declined to reveal the exact length increase, citing that disclosure would allow adversaries to distinguish between the two in combat. The JASSM-XR can be mounted on most Air Force fighters, but not the F-16 due to weight and length constraints.
Rothstein emphasized that the XR's additional range significantly reduces the need for air-to-air refueling, as fighters would not have to fly as far before releasing the missile, while still allowing it to hit distant targets.
The Air Force's continued efforts to expand Rapid Dragon are taking place through a program called "Franklin," which aims to develop a low-cost cruise missile for air transportation. The Enterprise Test Vehicle program could feed into Franklin, but Lockheed presents the CMMT as a compelling option due to its extensive history of producing reliable munitions, deep experience with the global supply chain, and successful collaboration with automation.
- The Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT), a new affordable, modular cruise missile being developed by Lockheed Martin, is expected to cost around $150,000 and boast a customizable fuel capacity for mission requirements, fitting in an F-35 weapon bay.
- With the Air Force expressing interest in an affordable, mass-producible weapon, Lockheed Martin's CMMT aligns well with this goal, potentially fitting into another round of the Enterprise Test Vehicle program or spun off from another Lockheed effort, Rapid Dragon.
- Lockheed Martin is simultaneously building longer-range, high-end, stealthy weapons such as the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and its long-range anti-ship counterpart (LRASM), which are complementary to the CMMT, both in budgetary and operational terms.
- The CMMT production may take place in a facility in Camden, Arkansas, with the modular design allowing for elements to be constructed in various locations, including internationally, and later assembled in one factory. This manufacturing approach enables the liquid fuel and warhead to be added at the final stages, making the system portable and adaptable to regional needs.
