Low-Cost Cruise Missile Carrier 'Truck' Unveiled by Lockheed, Following Confirmed Flight Test Successes
Lockheed Martin's Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) Program Advances with Two Tested Variants
Lockheed Martin's Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) program is making significant strides, with two tested variants—the CMMT-D and the CMMT-X—demonstrating promising capabilities.
The CMMT-D, an unpowered glide vehicle, is launched vertically from pallets, such as those used in cargo aircraft. On the other hand, the CMMT-X is a powered missile launched from underwing pylons on small aircraft. Both variants have undergone successful flight tests in 2025, showcasing their ability to wing deploy, engage in powered flight (for the CMMT-X), and adapt to various launch platforms, including fighters, bombers, and ground launchers.
The CMMT-D boasts a range of approximately 500 nautical miles and a unit cost of around $150,000, which is about ten times less than Lockheed's AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Missile (JASSM). While it sacrifices ultra-stealth features, the emphasis is on scalable, low-cost production to complement higher-end missiles. The broader goal of the CMMT family is to provide modular, flexible cruise missile family units suitable for different military roles—strike, sensing, decoy, and more—with deployment from air and ground platforms.
The CMMT-X, the direct descendant of Lockheed Martin's 2020 "SPEED RACER" concept, was developed using digital techniques, similar to those used in previous work on the SPEED RACER concept. The CMMT-X has a range of about 350 nautical miles, but its exact unit cost is not yet stated.
In comparison to the Air Force’s Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM), the CMMT program aligns closely with the strategic aims typically associated with FAMM or similar programs aimed at cost-effective missile proliferation. However, specific technical or programmatic comparison data is not available in the search results.
The CMMT-D was tested by being dropped vertically from a pallet, simulating cargo aircraft deployment, while the CMMT-X was pylon-launched from the bottom of a small aircraft. The CMMT-D was tested from a Rapid Dragon-type pallet cell, and the CMMT-X completed its first flight after being mounted on a Piper Navajo aircraft. Lockheed Martin started the development of both CMMT models less than a year ago.
The Air Force has not yet determined the characteristics of Increment 2 of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. However, the flight-tested design and developed architecture of the CMMTs could be quickly adapted for low-cost Collaborative Combat Aircraft applications if the Air Force's requirements move forward.
| Feature | CMMT-D | CMMT-X | |------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------| | Type | Unpowered glide missile | Powered cruise missile | | Launch method | Pallet-drop (cargo aircraft) | Pylon-launched (small aircraft) | | Range | ~500 nautical miles | (Longer range implied) | | Unit cost | About $150,000 (~1/10 of JASSM) | Not stated | | Stealth | Less emphasis on stealth | Not specified | | Development status | Tested flight in 2025, demonstrator phase | Tested flight in 2025, experimental |
Without current data on FAMM in the search results, more precise comparison is not possible. The CMMT program is clearly advancing rapidly with practical demonstrations, focusing on affordable, scalable, multi-mission launch vehicles to increase strike capacity for the U.S. Air Force.
- The Pentagon is considering the adaptation of the flight-tested design and developed architecture of the Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) for the low-cost Collaborative Combat Aircraft applications, should the Air Force's requirements move forward.
- In the realm of warfare and military technology, Lockheed Martin's CMMT-D, an unpowered glide missile, has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles and a unit cost of around $150,000, making it about ten times less expensive than Lockheed's AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Missile (JASSM).
- The Space Force and Air Force are keen on the development of such affordable and scalable multi-mission launch vehicles, as they seek to increase their strike capacity in diverse warfare scenarios, including potential space warfare operations.
- During the 2025 flight tests, the CMMT variants, including the CMMT-D and CMMT-X, showcased their ability to adapt to various launch platforms, ranging from fighters and bombers to ground launchers, and even spacecraft, signifying the potential for cross-domain applications.
- Lockheed Martin's CMMT-X, a powered cruise missile, has undergone successful flight tests in 2025, sharing digital techniques with its predecessor, the 2020 "SPEED RACER" concept, and boasting a range of about 350 nautical miles, while its exact unit cost is yet to be stated.
