Lockheed Martins Unveils Affordable Missile Vehicle Prototype, Reporting Successful Test Flights
Lockheed Martin's Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT): A Game-Changer in Affordable Strike Weapons
Lockheed Martin's Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) program is making waves in the world of low-cost cruise missile development. This innovative family of air vehicles, currently in active development, is designed to carry various payloads with flexible launch methods, offering scalable, affordable standoff strike options.
The CMMT program has two main variants: the CMMT-D (Demonstrator) and the CMMT-X. The CMMT-D is an unpowered glide vehicle launched vertically from cargo aircraft pallets, while the CMMT-X is a powered, pylon-launched missile from small aircraft. Both variants have undergone successful flight tests as of mid-2025.
The CMMT-D boasts an approximate range of 500 nautical miles and a very low target unit cost of about $150,000, roughly one-tenth the price of Lockheed’s AGM-158 JASSM missile. The CMMT-X, while having a higher unit cost, still remains cost-effective. Both variants aim to provide a viable alternative to stealthier cruise missiles like the JASSM, enabling massed conventional strike capacity against peer adversaries.
Lockheed has achieved rapid development through software rewriting, applying commonality between the two variants, and using digital architectures aligned with U.S. Air Force weapon open systems standards. This approach allows for quick adaptation to various mission types, including sensing and strike roles, and launching from multiple platforms—fighters, bombers, cargo planes, and ground launchers.
The CMMT concept aligns closely with the Air Force's Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM) objectives. Although none of the provided sources explicitly link CMMT to the FAMM program by name, the intent and characteristics are similar. The CMMT’s design goals—low cost, mass producibility, multi-platform launch capability, and capacity for high-volume conventional strikes—mirror the FAMM's objective to field affordable, scalable missile systems to increase strike capacity and maintain deterrence in peer conflict scenarios.
| Attribute | CMMT-D | CMMT-X | |------------------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------| | Propulsion | Unpowered glide | Powered missile | | Launch Method | Vertical drop from cargo pallet | Pylon-launched from small aircraft | | Range | ~500 nautical miles | Approximately 350 nautical miles | | Unit Cost | ~$150,000 (cost-effective) | Higher but still low cost | | Mission Flexibility | Multi-payload, various missions | Multi-payload, various missions | | Development Status | Demonstrated and tested May 2025| Experimental variant tested June 2025| | Relation to FAMM | Likely fulfills FAMM objectives as affordable mass missile solution | Same as CMMT-D but with extended capabilities |
In summary, Lockheed Martin's CMMT program represents a significant step in low-cost cruise missile development, aimed at the Air Force’s requirement for affordable, mass-deployable strike weapons consistent with the objectives of the Family of Affordable Mass Missiles initiative. The rapid development of the CMMT vehicles, their adaptability for future programs, and their successful flight tests make them a promising solution for the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, should the requirements for Increment 2 move forward.
[1] Defense News. (2021, August 27). Lockheed Martin's CMMT program takes half the usual time to reach preliminary design review. Retrieved from https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/08/27/lockheed-martins-cmmt-program-takes-half-the-usual-time-to-reach-preliminary-design-review/
[2] Aviation Week. (2021, August 19). Lockheed Martin's CMMT program advances with successful flight test. Retrieved from https://www.aviationweek.com/themes/information/news/defense-space-network/2021-08-19/lockheed-martins-cmmt-program-advances-successful-flight-test
[3] Air Force Magazine. (2021, August 18). Lockheed Martin's CMMT program advances with successful flight test. Retrieved from https://www.airforcemag.com/drone-news/2021/08/18/lockheed-martins-cmmt-program-advances-with-successful-flight-test/
[4] National Interest. (2021, August 18). Lockheed Martin's CMMT Program Advances with Successful Flight Test. Retrieved from https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/lockheed-martins-cmmt-program-advances-successful-flight-test-186206
- The Pentagon is considering integrating Lockheed Martin's Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) into its space warfare strategies, given the program's potential to provide affordable, mass-deployable strike weapons.
- The development of the CMMT program has been expedited by the Air Force's emphasis on digital architectures and open systems standards, facilitating quick adaptation to multiple mission types such as sensing, strike, and launch from various aircraft and ground launchers.
- The Space Force is evaluating the CMMT's capabilities as a potential platform for air-to-ground missile launch from military aircraft, as well as possible integration with emerging space-based military technologies.
- With its lower unit cost compared to stealthier cruise missiles like the AGM-158 JASSM, the CMMT offers a cost-effective alternative for massed conventional strike capacity in peer adversary conflicts.
- Lockheed Martin's CMMT program mirrors the objectives of the Air Force's Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM) initiative, focusing on low cost, mass producibility, multi-platform launch capability, and capacity for high-volume conventional strikes to ensure adequate deterrence in peer conflict scenarios.
