Lockheed Martin’s CMMT Missiles: Long-Range, Fast, Cheap, and Ready for War

Lockheed Martin has recently introduced a new generation of long-range cruise missiles characterized by affordability, speed, and modularity: the Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT). This aerial delivery system consists of two distinct missile platforms, the CMMT-D and CMMT-X, designed to meet the demands of modern warfare while minimizing production costs and time-to-deployment. These systems represent Lockheed Martin's independent venture into efficient missile development, and early tests suggest they could offer strategic advantages when integrated into large-scale military operations.

CMMT-D is loaded into the Rapid Dragon cell. Photo: lockheedmartin.com

The initial testing phase took place in Oregon, with the CMMT-D tested in May and the CMMT-X in June. These trials were deemed successful, highlighting not only the operational readiness of the missiles but also the effectiveness of their deployment methods. 

The CMMT-D, a glider-style cruise missile, was released from a Rapid Dragon deployment cell. Carried by a helicopter to an altitude of 14,500 feet, the missile underwent parachute drop testing before its wings deployed mid-air. With no onboard propulsion system, the CMMT-D relies solely on its aerodynamic design and launch altitude to glide toward its target. Despite its unpowered nature, the missile can cover up to 500 miles, making it a low-cost option for saturation attacks. 

CMMT-D is dropped from a helicopter. Photo: lockheedmartin.com

The CMMT-D’s light weight and modular design allow it to be carried in large quantities aboard various aircraft, including transport planes like the C-130 and A400M, as well as helicopters. The ability to deploy a high volume of these missiles simultaneously could be pivotal in overwhelming enemy air defenses during massed assaults.

What sets the CMMT-D apart is the remarkably short development timeline—just 10 months from concept to testing. This rapid pace demonstrates Lockheed Martin’s agility in adapting to modern warfare requirements and developing new systems that prioritize affordability and deployability over high-end sophistication. 

In contrast, the CMMT-X represents the powered variant of the CMMT platform. It is equipped with a propulsion system and launched from aircraft pylons, offering higher speed but a shorter range of approximately 350 miles. The CMMT-X has been optimized for a wide variety of aircraft, including fighters and bombers, ensuring flexible integration across multiple mission profiles. 

Notably, this missile evolved from the SPEED RACER initiative introduced in 2020, which focused on using advanced software architectures to enhance missile performance. With just seven months of development time, the CMMT-X illustrates an even faster engineering turnaround, reflecting Lockheed Martin’s commitment to cost-effective innovation.

Although Lockheed Martin has fully funded the CMMT project itself, there have been no confirmed orders from the U.S. government or allied nations. Nevertheless, the company envisions these systems playing a central role in future missile development strategies—either through direct adoption or as conceptual foundations for next-generation weapons. As warfare increasingly shifts toward high-volume, distributed attacks, systems like the CMMT could become instrumental in shaping offensive tactics.

From a strategic perspective, the CMMT’s principal advantages lie in its range, affordability, production speed, and modular design. However, it does make certain trade-offs: it lacks advanced sensors, payload versatility, stealth characteristics, and the high speeds of more expensive missile platforms. That said, these trade-offs may be acceptable in scenarios where quantity and saturation are more valuable than precision or stealth.

When benchmarked against similar low-cost missile projects like Red and Green Wolf, the CMMT holds its ground competitively. While differences exist in range and sensor configurations, CMMT’s value proposition is centered on cost-efficiency and mass deployment. 

Compared to high-end platforms like the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and Extended Range (JASSM-ER) systems, CMMT proves significantly cheaper while achieving comparable ranges, albeit with a distinctly different operational philosophy. Rather than relying on individual high-performance missiles, the CMMT emphasizes overwhelming force through sheer numbers.

This approach also makes CMMT a more versatile alternative to long-range kamikaze drones. Despite their similar price points, the CMMT-X outpaces kamikaze drones in speed, while the CMMT-D offers superior payload integration for aircraft due to its compact and modular form. 

Additionally, the ability to tailor each missile to specific mission profiles further strengthens the system’s adaptability. As missile technology advances, and defense systems become increasingly complex, the CMMT could provide a cost-effective way to saturate enemy defenses using a volume-centric attack strategy.

Looking forward, the CMMT might evolve beyond its current role in land-based assaults. There is potential for it to be adapted for anti-ship missions, particularly in efforts to neutralize advanced naval vessels through massed missile barrages. If developed further, this application could disrupt traditional naval defense paradigms and add a layer of unpredictability to naval warfare.

Lockheed Martin’s CMMT project reflects a shifting paradigm in missile design—one that leans away from high-cost precision tools and embraces mass deployability, modular flexibility, and production speed. While these missiles may not possess the high-tech sophistication of their pricier counterparts, they provide a tactical advantage through sheer volume and accessibility. 

As global defense strategies continue to evolve, systems like the CMMT will likely become central to how modern militaries structure their offensive capabilities. In that sense, the CMMT isn’t just another missile system—it’s a reimagining of what effective firepower can look like in the modern battlefield.