General Atomics was awarded the development of 155 mm LRMP ammunition with gliding capability for a range of 120 km by the USN.
Unlike other guided rounds, LRMP or Long-Range Maneuvering Projectile is shaped like a cruise missile for an effective gliding performance. Upon the climb, LRMP deploys its wings to glide towards the target up to ranges of 120 km to deliver the warhead. The guidance consists of an optical seeker that functions as the targeting and navigation sensor as a measure against GPS jamming.
Traditional guided rounds like Excalibur and Kransopol with shorter ranges follow a corrected ballistic path through GPS/INS or onboard seekers.
General Atomics claims that the low-cost production will start in 2025, but it is important to question in what sense LRMP would be low-cost. In a world where simpler guided rounds are multiple times the price of an unguided one, a round with more complex mechanisms and what appears to be an optical seeker should give an idea about the unit price.
Zumwalt-class destroyers’ LRLAP ammunition for its phased-out guns set a remarkable example in this problem with a price tag nearing that of an RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile. Like with LRMP, LRLAP aimed for ranges in a 100+ km regime with extensive rocket assistance, almost to the point of becoming a gun-launched artillery rocket.
