Lockheed Martin Unveils Affordable Cruise Missile Transport Vehicle, Reporting Successful Test Flights
The American aerospace company, Lockheed Martin, has developed the Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT)—a family of low-cost, modular cruise missile air vehicles designed for scalability and diverse military mission needs. The two main variants are the CMMT-D and CMMT-X.
The unpowered glide vehicle, CMMT-D, was first deployed in a tactically representative airborne environment as part of the U.S. Air Force’s Rapid Dragon program. It was successfully tested by being dropped from a helicopter at 14,500 feet, deploying wings for a controlled glide, simulating high-volume mass attack capability. The CMMT-D aims for a unit cost around $150,000, roughly one-tenth the cost of the stealthy AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Missile (JASSM). It has a range of about 500 nautical miles and can be launched from multiple platforms—fighters, bombers, and ground launchers.
On the other hand, the CMMT-X is a powered missile with a motor designed for pylon launch beneath small aircraft, providing greater range and adaptability. It achieved its first powered pylon launch in June 2025, quickly transitioning from concept to powered flight within seven months. The CMMT-X is the direct descendant of Lockheed Martin's 2020 "SPEED RACER" concept.
Both variants are developed under Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works’ Project Carrera, which leverages model-based engineering and digital integration to reduce cost and development time. The series builds on earlier Speed Racer program work and complies with Weapon Open System Architecture (WOSA) standards to allow flexible payload and seeker integration for diverse missions.
Compared to the Air Force’s Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM) program, the CMMT family shares a similar goal of providing affordable, scalable standoff munitions to supplement existing high-end missiles. While FAMM focuses broadly on low-cost mass missiles, the CMMT-D and CMMT-X specifically emphasize modular designs for various payloads and launch methods, very rapid prototyping, and low unit cost enabling potential large-scale production.
In essence, Lockheed Martin’s CMMT vehicles aim to fulfill some of the FAMM program objectives by offering flexible, low-cost missile solutions designed for mass deployment from diverse platforms, thereby enhancing the U.S. Air Force's standoff strike capabilities at significantly reduced cost compared to traditional stealth missiles like JASSM.
Summary Table:
| Feature | CMMT-D | CMMT-X | Air Force FAMM Program | |--------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------| | Propulsion | Unpowered glider | Powered motor-powered missile | Broad low-cost missile family | | Launch Method | Pallet launch (Rapid Dragon)| Pylon launch on small aircraft | Multiple platforms anticipated | | Range | ~500 nautical miles | Extended range (motorized) | Varies | | Cost per unit | ~$150,000 (low cost) | Low cost, scalable | Emphasis on affordability | | Development speed | 10 months concept-to-demo | 7 months concept-to-flight | Program ongoing | | Purpose | Mass low-cost standoff attacks| Versatile standoff capability| Affordable mass missile suite | | Compliance | WOSA (modular seekers/payloads) | WOSA-compliant | Likely modular & affordable |
This comparison highlights that CMMT-D and -X are tangible, rapidly developed testbed missiles concretely addressing low-cost missile needs aligned with the broader FAMM program goals but with Lockheed Martin’s proprietary modular engineering and manufacturing strategies.
- The unpowered glide vehicle, CMMT-D, is designed with a unit cost of roughly $150,000, making it one-tenth the cost of the stealthy AGM-158 JASSM and complying with Weapon Open System Architecture (WOSA) standards for flexible payload and seeker integration.
- The CMMT-X, a powered missile, achieved a powered pylon launch within seven months of concept development, and it aims for a similar low unit cost as the CMMT-D for potential large-scale production.
- Lockheed Martin's CMMT family of vehicles, including the CMMT-D and CMMT-X, shares a similar goal with the Air Force’s Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM) program, providing affordable, scalable standoff munitions to supplement existing high-end missiles.
- Both CMMT variants are developed under Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works’ Project Carrera, using model-based engineering and digital integration to reduce cost and development time.
- The CMMT vehicles are designed for mass deployment from diverse platforms, including fighters, bombers, and ground launchers, thereby enhancing the U.S. Air Force's standoff strike capabilities at significantly reduced cost compared to traditional stealth missiles like JASSM.
- The CMMT-D and CMMT-X are tangible, rapidly developed testbed missiles that concretely address low-cost missile needs and align with the broader FAMM program goals while leveraging Lockheed Martin’s proprietary modular engineering and manufacturing strategies.
