Long Range Precision Fires Technology

The Long Range Precision Fires Technology program is a key Army research and development initiative aligned with the Army's Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) Modernization Priority. Its overarching goal is to investigate and mature technologies that enhance the Army's ability to destroy, neutralize, or suppress adversaries using cannon artillery and missile fire. The program also enables the integration of fire support assets into combined arms operations. It focuses on applied research across strategic, operational, and tactical fires, with major emphasis on missiles, cannon artillery, and supporting technologies that address cost drivers and performance enhancements for future LRPF munitions and systems.

AF3: Extended Range Propulsion Technology is dedicated to developing missile propulsion technologies that enable significant range extension and speed improvements for long-range applications. Managed by the Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC), this project focuses on high-performance propellants with increased energy density and burn rate control. The project will identify and investigate emerging propulsion technologies, including non-traditional and hypersonic applications, and conduct modeling and simulation studies to evaluate performance within future LRPF design concepts.

AF8: Affordable Extended Range Precision Technology aims to produce cost-effective extended range precision missiles by researching advanced propulsion, seekers and sensors, fire control, datalink, guidance, navigation, controls, airframes, and survivability techniques. The project will continue experiments to validate advanced materials for energy-dense batteries and develop technologies to maintain munition accuracy in GPS-denied environments. It will also mature datalink and seeker technologies for deep targeting in Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) environments, and investigate advanced survivability concepts by integrating new materials, algorithms, and sensors to maximize missile survivability against sophisticated threats.

AG4: Extended Range Artillery Munition Suite Technology supports LRPF modernization by investigating enabling component technologies for high-precision terminal guidance in denied environments and automated cannon artillery systems. The Armaments Center leads efforts to advance cannon and barrel technologies for higher velocity and precision munitions. The project also matures precision munitions components such as multimodal seekers and gun-hardened navigation systems, and develops multidomain artillery munitions capable of integrating novel payloads and collaborative engagement features. Plans include designing advanced materials for cannon cooling and durability, developing targeting algorithms using Synthetic Aperture Radar data, and maturing lethal and non-lethal sub-munition technologies for survivability in launch environments.

AH4: Precision and Cooperative Weapons in a Denied Environment Technology investigates technologies for accurate fires from extended ranges in denied environments, focusing on navigation without GPS and enhanced maneuverability for munitions. The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) leads research on guidance and flight technologies, including advanced control algorithms, aerodynamic modeling, onboard sensor integration, and artificial intelligence for geo-registration. The project aims to improve delivery accuracy and survivability of munitions in contested electromagnetic environments and against advanced area denial assets.

BN5: Fuze and Power for Munitions explores critical component technologies to enable advanced lethality and scalable warheads, as well as new power solutions for extended run time and range. The Armaments Center investigates novel fuze and power technologies, including proximity sensors, energy transfer mechanisms, wireless fuze setting, and dynamic triggering algorithms. Efforts will focus on maturing electronic safe and arm devices, highly configurable fuzing, and designing compact power sources and interfaces for emerging munition requirements.

BO9: Weapons & Munitions Tech Program Initiative (CA) is a Congressional Interest Item that funds advanced manufacturing and materials research, including refractory alloys, additive manufacturing for missile applications, extended range projectiles, high-speed missile materials, hypersonic wind tunnel development, reactive alloy munitions, and energetic materials. These efforts support the development and integration of next-generation materials and manufacturing techniques to improve performance, survivability, and affordability of LRPF systems.

DM6: Cannon Fires Automation Research is a new start focusing on technologies to enhance tactical cannon fires capabilities for future operational environments, including unmanned, optionally manned, and autonomous indirect fires systems. The Armaments Center will mature weapon design architectures and component technologies for automated artillery, leveraging robotics, machine learning, and platform networking. The project aims to enable remote and autonomous command and control, facilitating technology insertion and optimized performance across multiple fires functions and formations.