General Atomics GA-EMS Successfully Test-Fires Long-Range Maneuvering Projectile
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has announced a successful test of its Long Range Maneuvering Projectile (LRMP), a new precision-guided 155mm artillery round. GA-EMS conducted the demonstration in August at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The test confirmed that this winged and maneuverable munition can extend artillery range to roughly 120 kilometers (about 75 miles) while engaging both static and moving targets.
The LRMP is engineered to extend the reach and accuracy of tube artillery dramatically. Unlike a conventional ballistic shell, the LRMP uses deployable wings and an onboard guidance system to steer in flight. It relies on an internal inertial navigation system, allowing it to operate effectively without GPS when satellites are unavailable or jammed. According to GA-EMS, the LRMP can achieve two to three times the range of standard 155mm rounds — roughly 100–120 km in current tests— while shrinking impact error to just a few meters. This leap in performance means a standard howitzer could strike high-value or mobile targets that previously required missiles or air support.
To demonstrate practical deployment, GA-EMS used existing Army hardware. The live-fire test utilised the U.S. Army’s M777 155mm howitzer and off-the-shelf M231 propellant charges, highlighting how the LRMP integrates with existing artillery logistics. Each round separated from its launch sabot and smoothly transitioned from spin-stabilized launch to guided glide as planned.
GA-EMS is the General Atomics division behind advanced weapons like electromagnetic railguns, laser systems and other next-gen munitions. The company says the LRMP program supports multi-service modernization goals and offers a scalable, field-proven solution for future battlefields. In fact, the U.S. Navy has already contracted GA-EMS, in December 2024, to adapt the LRMP for ship-based launch under its “Common Round” offensive strike initiative. Ground forces could get missile-like strike range and precision with the cost and logistics of a cannon round as LRMP is bridging the gap between cannon artillery and long-range rockets like the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).
This successful trial highlights a shift toward smarter, longer-range artillery across the U.S. military. As GA-EMS president Scott Forney notes, affordable, mass-produced guided artillery is critical against near-peer threats in contested environments. If fully adopted, the LRMP would allow dispersed artillery crews to engage distant targets without aircraft or GPS. The test comes amid an Army push for extended-range fires, with competitors like BAE Systems and others also demonstrating similarly advanced artillery rounds. The LRMP’s strong performance suggests it could soon join the U.S. arsenal, bringing precision strike power directly to traditional howitzers.