The U.S. Army has spent roughly five years assessing what a helicopter-fired, long-range precision munition would look like. Lt. Gen. Karl Gingrich, the service’s lead for force development, has raised questions about the potential proliferation of Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ Spike missile on all AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. Gingrich is considering merging the Long-Range Precision Munition program with Launched Effects-Medium Range to create a common capability for air and ground platforms at various ranges.
Gingrich is prioritizing the development and acquisition of launched effects that can be deployed from different air and ground vehicles, especially after the cancellation of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program. A session with the Army Requirements Oversight Council is scheduled for June 28 to solidify requirements for launched effects. The Army has received significant industry interest in launched effects, with plans to experiment heavily at its aviation event, Edge, this fall.
A medium-range launched effects prototype, developed by five companies, is undergoing evaluation and will inform decisions on production options. The Army has released a request for proposals for a short-range launched effect, with prototyping set to begin in fiscal 2025. Development of a long-range launched effects capability is expected to start in late FY25 as a corps-level asset.