DALLAS, Feb. 12, 2026 – Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) conducted a successful 112-km flight test of its Extended‑Range GMLRS (ER GMLRS) at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. For the first time, an M270A2 launcher fired the Alternative Warhead (AW) rocket variant validating the system’s precision, launcher integration and lethality. This milestone follows a successful test in January and marks the completion of system qualification testing for the variant.
WHY IT MATTERS
- Operationally ready sooner: This test moves the AW variant a step closer to fielding by the U.S. Army and its international partners.
- Range doubled: ER GMLRS reaches 150 km, more than twice the 70-km range of the standard GMLRS.
- Reliability unchanged: Precision and reliability meet the high standards set by the original system.
- Expanded mission set: The added reach lets warfighters engage high-value, time-critical targets with broader battlespace coverage, supporting counterair defense suppression and delivering effects on demand against both point (unitary) and area (AW) targets.
- Force structure efficiency: ER GMLRS is fully compatible with existing HIMARS and M270A2 launchers, demonstrating launch from the M270A2 adds capability without requiring additional launch platforms or changes to unit organization.
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE
- “The successful launch from the M270A2 shows we can give warfighters a longer-range weapon on the rocket platform they already trust, extending strike capability without adding new logistics burdens,” said Dave Griser, vice president, Lockheed Martin Precision Fires Rockets.
WHAT’S NEXT
- Operational testing: Soldiers will demonstrate ER GMLRS AW in follow-on operational tests during the first half of the year, prior to fielding.
- Global partnership growth: Rising demand across Europe and the Indo-Pacific will drive multinational fires training and sustainment initiatives, reinforcing U.S. and partner security networks.
