Guided Multiple-Launch Rocket System (GMLRS)

The Guided Multiple-Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) program, under Army Program Element PE 0205778A, is a critical component of the Army's modernization and precision fires initiatives. The primary goal of this program is to develop, enhance, and qualify advanced surface-to-surface artillery rockets capable of delivering precision fires against a variety of targets at short, medium, and long ranges. The GMLRS family includes several variants, such as the Unitary, Alternative Warhead (AW), and the Extended Range (ER) configurations, all of which are launched from the M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS platforms. The program's objectives are to increase range, survivability, and lethality while ensuring compliance with evolving Department of Defense (DoD) policies and operational requirements.

DL1: Extended Range GMLRS (ER-GMLRS) is a significant line item established in FY 2026 to separately account for the development and qualification of the ER-GMLRS configuration. The main objectives for this project are to complete system-level qualification of the ER-GMLRS with a redesigned Side Mounted Proximity Sensor (SMPS) and to integrate the Enhanced Alternative Warhead (EAW) into both standard and extended range rockets. The redesign of the SMPS was necessitated by thermal performance anomalies discovered during flight testing. Funding will support the completion of qualification activities, including ground and flight testing, as well as software development for launcher and rocket integration.

EG2: GMLRS Alternative Warheads initially funded the development of the AW variant as a non-cluster munition alternative to the Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) variant, in response to DoD policy changes regarding cluster munitions. The AW entered full-rate production in 2015. Under this project, the Army also initiated the Enhanced Alternative Warhead (EAW) effort, which aims to increase lethality against light and medium armored targets by modifying the warhead, proximity sensor, and fuze. The EAW will be qualified for use in both standard GMLRS and ER-GMLRS rockets, with component and system-level testing to ensure performance standards are met before production integration.

EG3: Guided MLRS provides funding for ongoing enhancements to the GMLRS family, including the development of Assured Position, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) capabilities. The APNT initiative is designed to maintain rocket accuracy in contested or GPS-denied environments, supporting the Army's need for resilient precision fires. Funding will continue software development for anti-jam solutions and integration of advanced guidance sets. Additionally, EG3 previously supported the ER-GMLRS SMPS redesign and EAW component qualification, with these efforts transitioning to the DL1 line in FY 2026.

The Enhanced Alternative Warhead (EAW) initiative is a cross-cutting effort funded under multiple project codes (EG2, EG3, and DL1) as it progresses through component design, system integration, and qualification phases. The EAW is intended to provide increased effectiveness against a broader target set, including light and medium armored vehicles, while maintaining compliance with international munitions policies. Qualification activities include arena, ground, and flight testing, as well as production line validation, ensuring the EAW can be seamlessly integrated into existing and future GMLRS production runs.

The acquisition strategy for the GMLRS program leverages a combination of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) development contracts and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements to expedite development and qualification activities. Key stakeholders include the STORM Project Office, Army Contracting Command-Redstone, Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium, and the Defense Contract Management Agency. Future production contracts are planned as sole source, firm-fixed-price agreements, with cost-plus-fixed-fee elements as needed to support ongoing development and integration.