Soldier-led tests in September and October fired multiple rockets in succession from an M270A2 launcher. The rocket is designed to reach as much as 150 kilometers.
Lockheed Martin's Extended-Range GMLRS (ER GMLRS) rocket has completed operational testing in its Alternative Warhead and Unitary Warhead versions, the company announced Oct. 19. The flights took place in September and October. The two successful soldier-led tests involved firing multiple rockets in succession from an M270A2 launcher at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.1
ER GMLRS Alternative Warhead and Unitary Warhead completed operational testing
Extended-Range GMLRS rocket
Alternative Warhead and Unitary Warheadcompleted operational testingactual
following flights in September and October
M270A2 launcherfiring multiple rockets in successionactual
at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico
Source: Lockheed Martin, Oct. 19, 2026. As of Oct. 21, 2026.
The rocket is designed to extend the GMLRS family's reach to as much as 150 kilometers while maintaining compatibility with HIMARS and M270 launchers.1
Sabrina Barnes, vice president of Lockheed Martin Precision Fires Rockets, identified the ability to add capability within an existing precision fires architecture as part of the value of ER GMLRS.1
Sources (1)
Lockheed Martin: ER GMLRS Advances Toward Operational Fielding and Expanded Production (Oct. 19, 2026) news.lockheedmartin.com
Initial work under the strategic cooperation agreement follows qualification, at an Avio USA plant in Hurt, Va., that is still under construction.
Lockheed Martin and Avio announced a strategic cooperation agreement for solid rocket motor (SRM) production on Tuesday, Oct. 13. It gives Lockheed access to a share of Avio's merchant supply capacity for the Extended Range GMLRS (ER GMLRS) and the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). After qualification, initial work will focus on motors for those two programs, to be made at Avio USA's new plant in Hurt, Va.1
The agreement provides Lockheed access to a share of Avio's merchant supply capacity
Lockheed Martin and Avio announced a strategic cooperation agreement for the production of solid rocket motors on Oct. 13, 2026
Lockheed MartinER GMLRS and PrSM
strategic cooperation agreementplanned
AvioAvio USA's new facility in Hurt, Virginia
Raytheonsigned a memorandum of understanding on Nov. 10, 2025
preferred access to a shareplanned
AvioAvio USA's new facility in Hurt, Virginia
After qualification, initial work under the agreement will focus on solid rocket motors
Construction of the plant is expected to be completed by late 2028, with production anticipated to begin in early 2029
Lockheed Martin and Avio releases, Oct. 13, 2026; Avio USA release, Sept. 29, 2026; Avio releases, Nov. 10, 2025. Data as of Oct. 13, 2026.
Last November the two companies signed a non-binding term sheet under which Lockheed would have preferred access to a portion of the plant's capacity for "both tactical and strategic size SRMs." They said then that they intended to negotiate a Strategic Cooperation Agreement.4 The agreement now announced names two programs for that initial work. Neither company's release gives the agreement's value, motor quantities, delivery schedule or whether its terms are binding.1
Lockheed is not the plant's only prospective customer. Avio USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Rome-based Avio S.p.A., broke ground in Hurt on Sept. 29.3 Avio CEO Giulio Ranzo said the group has launched an investment of more than $500 million in new U.S. SRM capacity "with a view to become a merchant supplier to the various defense customers."1 Avio USA is developing the plant for Raytheon programs as well as Lockheed's.3 Under a memorandum of understanding signed the same day as Lockheed's term sheet, Raytheon will have preferred access to a share of the plant's production capacity.4–5 That partnership builds on a July 2024 contract for preliminary engineering work on the Mk104 rocket motor.5
Lockheed says the added capacity creates the opportunity to accelerate ER GMLRS and PrSM output.1 That supply depends on a plant where construction is expected to finish by late 2028 and production is anticipated to begin in early 2029. Motor qualification and the plant's completion are the next milestones to watch.1, 3
Sources (5)
Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin and Avio Announce Strategic Cooperation Agreement for Solid Rocket Motor Production (Oct. 13, 2026) news.lockheedmartin.com
Avio: Lockheed Martin and Avio Announce Strategic Cooperation Agreement for Solid Rocket Motor Production (Oct. 13, 2026) www.avio.com
Avio USA: Avio USA Breaks Ground in Virginia on First U.S. Solid Rocket Motor Facility (Sept. 29, 2026) news.lockheedmartin.com
Avio: Avio and Lockheed Martin Sign Term Sheet to Support the Establishment of a New Plant for Solid Rocket Motors in the USA (Nov. 10, 2025) www.avio.com
Avio: Avio and RTX's Raytheon Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Establish New Solid Rocket Motor Facility in the U.S. (Nov. 10, 2025) www.avio.com
Backlog reaches $1.7 billion, up 108% from year-end 2025.
Karman Space & Defense reported nearly $465 million in third-quarter bookings on Nov. 5, 2026. Bookings included a seven-year Lockheed Martin contract supporting the THAAD program.1
Karman reports Q3 bookings of nearly $465 million
Third quarter fiscal 2026
Bookingsnearly $465 million
Karman reports Q3 bookings of nearly $465 million across all end markets, including a seven-year Lockheed Martin contract supporting THAAD
Total revenue$201,623 thousand
Karman Q3 2026 (three months ended Sept. 30) total revenue was $201,623 thousand vs $121,787 thousand a year earlier, up 65.6%
Source: Karman Space & Defense, Q3 FY2026 earnings release, SEC Exhibit 99.1. As of November 5, 2026.
Backlog reached $1.7 billion at September's end, up 108% from year-end 2025. Karman defines backlog as the value or estimated value of existing contracts less amounts previously invoiced, including purchase orders, long-term agreements and authorizations to proceed. The release does not separate acquired contributions to bookings or backlog.1
Sources (1)
Karman Space & Defense Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Results (Exhibit 99.1) www.sec.gov