US Army is doubling the range and firepower of Howitzers, Rockets and Missiles

Raytheon is developing a long-range missile for the Army’s Long-Range Precision Fires requirement that will allow the Army to field twice as many missiles on its existing launch vehicles. Thin and sleek, it will fire two missiles from a single weapons pod, slashing the cost. The new missile also flies farther, packs more punch and has a better guidance system than the current weapon.

Raytheon’s new long-range weapon will engage targets at distances up to 499 kilometers. The DeepStrike missile is primarily meant to attack fixed ground locations, like helicopter staging areas or hardened bunkers.

Howitzers, Rockets and Missiles

The Army is modernizing guns, rockets and missiles
* 155 cannon, the cheapest option, for the close fight against the enemy’s frontline forces;
* guided rockets for the deep fight against enemy reinforcements and supply lines; and
* missiles, the most expensive munitions, for very deep or even strategic strikes against targets in the enemy rear and homeland.

The current 155 mm howitzer can hit targets about 30 km (19 miles) away. New ammunition and gun barrels that are 50% longer and a new propellant will enable 70 kilometer range howitzers by 2023.

Hypersonic projectiles and other improvements will boost range to 100 kilometers or more by 2030.

The current precision rocket — the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, or GMLRS — fires about 70 km (44 miles). The Army is working on GMLRS Extended Range that will more than double the range to 150 km.

The Army Tactical Missile System currently has a range of 300 km (188 miles) but new smaller and longer range missiles will double the firepower while extending reach to the INF treaty limit of 499 kilometers.