Lockheed Retargets GMLRS Rocket Mid-Flight
Lockheed Martin showed a rocket can receive new targeting data after launch and strike a moving target.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Quantum Computing
Lockheed Martin demonstrated a GMLRS rocket that was retargeted during flight to destroy a moving target at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The rocket was fired from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and received updated targeting information through the company's Strigo datalink and RIG-360 system.
Why it matters
The demonstration marks the first time the system showed it could change targets after launch, a capability that could make existing munitions more adaptable on the battlefield. The upgrade was added to the existing missile without significant modifications.
The demonstration used Lockheed Martin's Strigo datalink and Remote Interceptor Guidance-360 (RIG-360) system to transmit new target coordinates to a rocket already in flight. The company has not released performance figures such as accuracy or latency in the available extraction.
The players
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is a major American defense contractor that develops and manufactures advanced weapons systems, including the GMLRS rocket.
The details
The test was funded internally by Lockheed Martin and took place at White Sands Missile Range. Lockheed also plans to apply the same datalink technology to Extended Range GMLRS and the Precision Strike Missile.
The Tech Race
The demonstration extends the GMLRS and HIMARS platform by adding in-flight retargeting to a munition already in service. It positions Lockheed Martin to offer similar datalink-enabled upgrades to its Extended Range GMLRS and Precision Strike Missile lines.
The upgrade mainly affects defense planners and military users rather than consumers. Its practical significance lies in whether existing munitions can be redirected after launch without new hardware.
The takeaway
Adding in-flight retargeting to existing munitions can extend their usefulness without building entirely new weapons. Readers tracking defense technology should watch whether the capability reaches Extended Range GMLRS and Precision Strike Missile programs.
Further reading
Explore more in Quantum Computing for the broader technology context behind advanced targeting systems.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Defense Post.
