US Army tests new DeepStrike autonomous rocket launcher to launch more missiles with less manpower.

On March 25, 2025, at the U.S. Army’s Project Convergence Capstone 5 event held in Fort Irwin, California, Raytheon, an RTX business, conducted a live fire demonstration of its DeepStrike autonomous mobile launcher vehicle. The system, which does not require a driver, was developed through collaboration with Forterra, Oshkosh Defense, and Ursa Major. Raytheon led the development of the launcher and missile; Forterra provided the autonomous driving system; Oshkosh Defense supplied the vehicle platform and electronic systems; and Ursa Major manufactured the missile’s rocket motor.
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The DeepStrike launcher is designed to accommodate multiple missile sizes and types, and to increase the number of weapons carried compared to current systems. (Picture source: Raytheon)

The demonstration involved the firing of a new training missile developed for the US Army’s Joint Reduced Range Rocket (JT3) program. This missile, created through a rapid prototyping initiative, is intended as a training round for use with the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Raytheon submitted its JT3 proposal in May 2024. The missile uses a solid rocket motor produced by Ursa Major, which has completed nearly 300 static test firings in the past year using additive manufacturing processes. A winner for the JT3 program has not yet been selected.

Raytheon confirmed that the DeepStrike launcher was successfully fired three times during the Project Convergence event, with each firing meeting distinct objectives. The launcher is designed to accommodate multiple missile sizes and types, and to increase the number of weapons carried compared to current systems. The system is intended to support increased mobility and survivability for ground formations. According to Raytheon, testing included a leader-follower setup where a manned vehicle led and the autonomous launcher followed.

The vehicle used for the launcher is based on Oshkosh Defense’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles A2 (FMTV A2). This platform was selected through a competitive rebuy program initiated by the U.S. Army in 2016 and awarded to Oshkosh in February 2018. FMTV A2 includes 16 truck variants and three trailers and incorporates higher capacity suspension, improved engine power, and increased protection over previous versions. It retains compatibility with existing FMTV trailers and weapons kits. Low-Velocity Airdrop (LVAD) variants have also been developed for parachute delivery from aircraft. The vehicle platform has been in service with the U.S. Army since 1996 and has evolved through contracts involving Stewart & Stevenson, Armor Holdings, BAE Systems, and Oshkosh Corporation. As of August 2021, Oshkosh had produced over 40,500 FMTV A1P2 trucks and trailers. The A2 version began fielding in June 2023.

Forterra’s AutoDrive autonomy system enables the launcher’s unmanned operation. AutoDrive is a modular, vehicle-agnostic autonomous driving system used in military and commercial applications. It supports single-vehicle waypoint navigation, convoy operations, static and dynamic obstacle avoidance, GPS-denied operation, and re-routing. The system includes multiple control interfaces: in-vehicle for human oversight, remote consoles for long-distance monitoring and takeover, and garrison-style handheld controllers compatible with systems like ATAK and WMI.

AutoDrive has been deployed in 10 countries, including in combat zones such as Afghanistan. It is used in U.S. Department of Defense autonomy programs including the Ground Expeditionary Autonomous Retrofit System (GEARS), Autonomous Transport Vehicle System (ATV-S), Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV), Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET), and the U.S. Marine Corps’ Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary (ROGUE) Fires program under the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS).

Ursa Major’s propulsion technology is designed to address supply constraints in the U.S. solid rocket motor industrial base. The company uses additive manufacturing to produce motors for tactical missile systems. Its approach supports production scalability and reduced timelines. The motors feature composite solid propellants and tailorable thrust profiles. In December 2024, Raytheon and Ursa Major conducted a joint missile flight test using a long-range solid rocket motor. According to Ursa Major, the production process is structured to allow rapid scaling and cost reduction. RTX Ventures previously invested in Ursa Major to support national security propulsion development.

Although the DeepStrike name was originally used by Raytheon for a proposed long-range surface-to-surface missile in the U.S. Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program, the launcher demonstrated in 2025 is a separate development. The original DeepStrike missile was intended to replace the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a two-in-the-pod design compatible with M270 and HIMARS launchers, offering a planned range up to 499 km. Raytheon conducted static motor tests and warhead evaluations in 2019 but exited the PrSM program before flight testing due to technical issues. Lockheed Martin continued in the program and conducted successful test flights.

The U.S. Army has not yet issued a procurement plan for autonomous launchers but is currently refining capability requirements. Brigadier General Rory Crooks of the Long-Range Precision Fires Cross Functional Team indicated that future fielding will rely on industry production, not DEVCOM. An abbreviated capability development document (A-CDD) is being drafted to validate the need for such systems, which could lead to a competitive rapid prototyping process. The Army is exploring the integration of autonomous systems into existing force structures to enhance operational capabilities. The DeepStrike autonomous launcher demonstration is part of broader assessments by the Army of autonomous land-based weapons, including the Autonomous Multi-domain Launcher (AML), an unmanned variant of the M142 HIMARS rocket launcher. Further testing of the DeepStrike system is planned over the next year, including scenarios involving offensive and defensive operations in challenging environmental and battlefield conditions.