Raytheon and Ursa Major announced Wednesday that their DeepStrike™ autonomous mobile launcher has had a successful demonstration, completing a live fire at the U.S. Army's Project Convergence.

DeepStrike™, a precision missile designed to be used within the U.S. Army, is a joint-effort collaboration between RTX's Raytheon, Ursa Major, Forterra and Oshkosh Defense for the U.S. Army's Joint Reduced Range Rocket Program. The program aims to modernize the U.S.'s artillery and rocket systems to keep U.S. defense effective with advanced air defenses, such as the DeepStrike™ precision missile, and electronic warfare capabilities.

Raytheon lead efforts through construction of the precision missile and launcher - the latter of which was done via rapid prototyping. Forterra supplied self-driving technology, Oshkosh Defense provided the vehicle and electronic systems, and Ursa Major manufactured the missile's rocket motor. The missile, which does not require the use of a driver, aims to increase the amount of weapons compared to current fields. The companies involved state the launcher can fire missiles of various sizes, while providing the Army with more mobility and longer survivability.

Brian Burton, Vice President of Precision Fires & Maneuver at Raytheon, provided insight into the missile's use case:

"DeepStrike provides soldiers with a modern platform, autonomous capability and increased magazine depth to meet the Army’s future fires requirements. At Project Convergence, Raytheon demonstrated revolutionary autonomous launcher technology: a self-driving launcher designed to operate seamlessly in all weather conditions, on all terrains, and in harsh battlefield environments.”

Raytheon, Forterra, Oshkosh Defense and Ursa Major are continuing autonomous testing of DeepStrike™ for high-stress environments, involving offensive and defensive fires, over the next year.

About Ursa Major

Ursa Major is an aerospace and defense company, providing products and solutions for hypersonic, tactical missile, and space mobility systems. The company applies state-of-the-art digital and additive manufacturing techniques to rapidly produce the most advanced, cost-effective solutions. Ursa Major has category-leading hypersonic, on-orbit, and solid rocket motor propulsion capabilities. Ursa Major’s customers range from commercial space technology providers to enterprise-level aerospace and defense leaders as well as the U.S. government. The company employs the most sought-after engineers from top aerospace programs and universities, united in the core values of disruptive innovation, flying faster, and providing reliable and cost-effective systems. Headquartered in Berthoud, Colorado, with additive manufacturing facilities in Youngstown, Ohio, Ursa Major was named one of the best places to work by Built in Colorado three years in a row.

About Raytheon

Raytheon, an RTX business, is a leading provider of defense solutions to help the U.S. government, our allies and partners defend their national sovereignty and ensure their security. For more than 100 years, Raytheon has developed new technologies and enhanced existing capabilities in integrated air and missile defense, smart weapons, missiles, advanced sensors and radars, interceptors, space-based systems, hypersonics and missile defense across land, air, sea and space.

About RTX

RTX is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 185,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2024 sales of more than $80 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.