General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has successfully tested its Long Range Maneuvering Projectile (LRMP) at the US Army’s Yuma Proving Ground, the company announced on 13 October.
A controlled artillery round designed to engage targets at a distance of up to 120km, the next-generation LRMP’s primary objective is to extend both the range and precision strike characteristics of existing 155mm artillery systems. Aerodynamic control surfaces and integrated guidance capabilities enable it to manoeuvre in flight and engage targets at range, even in a GPS-denied environment.
The flight tests, which matched predictive models, involved the firing of multiple rounds from an M777 lightweight howitzer using M231 charges: they demonstrated sabot separation, de-spin stabilization, wing deployment and controlled descent, according to a company release. “As the US faces rising threats from near-peer adversaries and increasingly contested environments, affordable, mass-produced artillery is critical. LRMP meets that need while proving its ability to perform in extreme conditions and reshape long-range firepower,” observed GA-EMS President, Scott Forney. The tests yielded extensive data to support future demonstrations at “significantly increased ranges”.
A rendering of the LRMP in flight, courtesy of General Atomics
