M-LRPSM: US Army down-selects Lockheed/Rafael combo

Lockheed Martin has been down-selected by the US Army to compete in the Mobile-Long Range Precision Strike Missile (M-LRPSM) Directed Requirement competition, according to an August 26 announcement. The company was awarded a contract for the first phase of the programme to develop and test a prototype of a precision-guided missile system for use by Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT).

A week after the contract award, Lockheed Martin conducted a demonstration of its Spike Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) system’s capabilities at the Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah, according to the press release. During the test, three ground-launched missiles fired from a vehicle successfully hit their targets. The demonstration included one unobstructed and two obstructed targets, highlighting the system’s ability to engage without a direct line of sight.

The M-LRPSM is a programme initiated by the US Army to address a gap in operational requirements for Infantry Brigade Combat Teams. These units, which are typically lighter and more mobile than armoured brigades, require a precision strike capability that can be readily fielded on light combat vehicles. The goal of the M-LRPSM is to provide IBCTs with the organic ability to engage long-range targets with precision from a mobile platform.

“Our matured Spike NLOS system provides the U.S. Army with an advanced defence solution that delivers direct-strike and long-range capability in combat operations where manoeuvrability, reconnaissance and security matter most,” said Casey Walsh, Lockheed Martin Multi-Domain Missile Systems program director.

The Spike NLOS has previously been qualified under the Long Range Precision Munitions Directed Requirement (LRPM DR) contract for use on the US Apache AH-64E helicopter. It has also undergone ground vehicle testing and integration on Oshkosh’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) for the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

The current competition is set to continue with a second phase that will include safety confirmation testing. Following this, the US Army will make a final decision on which competitor will be selected for the M-LRPSM Directed Requirement.

M-LRPSM requirements

The initial request for information (RFI) on the M-LRPSM requirement sought information on systems that could meet the following criteria: 

• Target Effectiveness: The system must be effective against a range of targets, including armoured vehicles (stationary and in defilade), troops, field fortifications, and urban structures.
• Range & Speed: It must have a direct strike capability at a range of 25km or greater, with a time to target of less than 150 seconds for 20km and less than 300 seconds for 25km.
• Platform & Mobility: The system must be hosted on an Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) vehicle.
• In-Flight Control: It should be able to adjust its flight path, retarget, and abort a mission after launch.
• Resilience: The system must be survivable and resilient in denied, degraded, intermittent, and limited-bandwidth (DDIL) environments, and be able to protect itself against attacks on its network, cyberspace, electromagnetic spectrum (EMS), and PNT capabilities.
• Launcher Capacity: The vehicle should have the ability to launch multiple missiles (2 or more).
• Logistics & Maintenance: The system must be sustainable through existing Army logistics and maintainable within existing IBCT capabilities.

The IBCTs are to be converted to Mobile Brigade Combat Teams, according to a letter written in May 2025 by Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and General Randy George, Chief of Staff of the Army, that was addressed to the US Army. This is part of the Army Transformation Initiative that supports other efforts like the Long-Range Reconnaissance program. Under that change, the IBCTs will be equipped with the M1301 Infantry Squad Vehicle and will reduce its procurement of JLTVs, according to the May letter. A total of 649 ISVs were expected to be delivered by the end of 2025. 

The addition of BLOS missiles would improve the lethality of these formations, effectively enabling them to engage and disrupt concerted armoured advances at ranges far beyond their usual complement of weapons. However, it is worth noting that Spike NLOS is the only true ATGM that can meet the range stated in the RFI. That said, there are many loitering munitions that could provide the range, but perhaps not the speed required. Travelling 25 km in 300 seconds requires an average speed of 300 km/h, which is far more than most loitering munitions on the market. 

With all that said, assuming that Spike NLOS meets the rest of the US Army’s requirements, it is highly likely that it will proceed to the next phase of the contract. 

Tech profile: Spike NLOS

The Spike NLOS system, originally developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in Israel, is a multi-purpose missile system designed to provide long-range precision strike capabilities. The Non-Line-of-Sight designation refers to its ability to engage targets that are not visible to the operator at the moment of launch, using a fibre-optic cable or wireless data link to relay a real-time image from the missile’s seeker to the launcher.

• Range: Up to 25-32 km (ground/naval launch); up to 50 km (air launch).
• Guidance: Electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) seeker with a two-way, encrypted data link for real-time video and “man-in-the-loop” control.
• Firing modes: The EO/IR seeker that allows the operator to engage targets beyond the line of sight and change targets in mid-flight (Lock-On-After-Launch mode). It can also be used in a standard “fire-and-forget” mode (Lock-On-Before-Launch)
• Warheads: High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT), Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), and Penetrating Blast Fragmentation (PBF).
• Size: Approximately 1.67 meters in length; 170 mm in diameter; around 70 kg in weight.

Calibre comment

There is a determined drive to increase the lethality of infantry formations using loitering munitions and drones. It enables them to reach targets that were previously out of scope for assault rifles and a squad’s typical anti-amour complement. This contributes to a deepening of the lethal area of a battlefield, which has been observed in Ukraine. In open terrain, this seems to create a zone in which survivability for platforms and personnel can be quite low. However, it is less clear that the same occurs in a city. The M-LRPSM requirement would add a lot of lethality to a US IBCT, increasing their range and ability to blunt or withstand an armoured advance. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on August 27, 2025. Credit for the lead image is Lockheed Martin.