Lockheed discloses the second inexpensive cruise missile vehicle, named 'Truck', and reveals successful test flights.
Lockheed Martin's Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) System: A Game-Changer for Affordable, Scalable Military Applications
Lockheed Martin's Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) system is a revolutionary family of low-cost, modular air vehicles designed to serve various military roles, including cruise missiles, advanced decoys, and small ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) aircraft.
The CMMT system currently consists of two main variants: the CMMT-D (Demonstrator) and the CMMT-X (Experimental).
The CMMT-D, an unpowered glide vehicle, has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles and can be launched from various platforms such as fighters, bombers, and ground launchers. It is optimized for high-volume strikes and designed for low cost, with an estimated unit cost of around $150,000—a significant reduction compared to Lockheed’s AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile. Although not stealthy, the CMMT-D is intended for scalable production and deployment from multiple platforms.
On the other hand, the CMMT-X is a smaller, powered missile with a range of about 350 nautical miles. It is launched from aircraft pylons, marking the first airborne pylon launch for the CMMT family. The CMMT-X offers greater range and maneuverability due to its motor and can be launched from small aircraft.
These two versions support the U.S. Air Force’s strategic goal of flexible, affordable, and scalable standoff weapons capable of deploying from multiple platforms to increase strike capacity and enable massed attacks in conventional warfare against peer adversaries.
The CMMT system aligns closely with the Air Force’s Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM) program objectives. FAMM aims to develop low-cost, mass-produced cruise missiles that complement high-end precision weapons by providing affordable volume and operational scalability. The CMMT family's emphasis on cost-effectiveness, modularity, and compatibility with multiple launch platforms clearly supports the FAMM goals, offering a mix of air-launched, pallet-launched, and potentially ground-launched systems designed for affordability and production at scale.
The CMMT-X is the direct descendant of Lockheed's 2020 "SPEED RACER" concept, which explores expendable-class systems. The CMMT-D, tested by being dropped vertically from a pallet, simulating a cargo aircraft drop, was the first to deploy a compact air vehicle in a tactically representative airborne environment.
Both the CMMT-D and CMMT-X were designed using digital methods to demonstrate speed from concept to fabrication, and potentially production. The CMMT-X was mounted on a Piper Navajo civil turboprop and safely separated, deployed its wings, and lit its engine for powered flight over the Pendleton UAS Range in Oregon, just ten months after its concept design. Similarly, the CMMT-D underwent a Rapid Dragon test from "clean start," taking half the usual time to go from concept to preliminary design review.
In summary, the CMMT system is a significant contribution to the Air Force’s push for affordable, scalable cruise missile solutions under the FAMM program. With two tested variants demonstrating both glide and powered flight capabilities from different launch platforms, and unit costs significantly lower than traditional cruise missiles, the CMMT system promises to revolutionize military operations by offering affordable, scalable, and versatile air vehicles for a variety of roles.
[1] Lockheed Martin. (2021, October 19). Lockheed Martin Completes First Flight of Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) X. Retrieved from https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/press-releases/2021/october/lockheed-martin-completes-first-flight-of-common-multi-mission-truck-cmmt-x.html
[2] Lockheed Martin. (2021, October 20). Lockheed Martin's Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) Demonstrator Successfully Completes First Flight. Retrieved from https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/press-releases/2021/october/lockheed-martin-s-common-multi-mission-truck-cmmt-demonstrator-successfully-completes-first-flight.html
[3] Lockheed Martin. (2021, October 19). Lockheed Martin's Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) X Completes First Flight. Retrieved from https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/press-releases/2021/october/lockheed-martin-s-common-multi-mission-truck-cmmt-x-completes-first-flight.html
[4] Lockheed Martin. (2021, October 20). Lockheed Martin's Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) Demonstrator Successfully Completes First Flight. Retrieved from https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/press-releases/2021/october/lockheed-martin-s-common-multi-mission-truck-cmmt-demonstrator-successfully-completes-first-flight.html
- The Pentagon is considering integrating the technology used in Lockheed Martin's Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) system into future space warfare strategies, with the potential for CMMT-X missiles to be launched from aircraft or ground-based platforms.
- With the CMMT system promising to revolutionize military operations, it's worth exploring its possible integration into other branches of the military, such as air force bombers or even sports aviation competitions, showcasing the versatility and scalable nature of this innovative technology.
- The successful first flight of both the CMMT-D and CMMT-X demonstrators is indicative of the advanced technology and manufacturing techniques employed by Lockheed Martin in the development of this next-generation aircraft family.
- In light of the Pentagon's goals for increasingly flexible and affordable military applications, representatives from the world of sports aviation should participate in discussions about the potential adoption of the CMMT system in more unconventional settings, such as air races or aerobatic competitions.
- The military air force is actively exploring the use of the CMMT system in evolving its strategies for conventional warfare against peer adversaries, with an emphasis on the adaptability and cost-effectiveness offered by these versatile air vehicles.
