Raytheon has completed the third flight test of its DeepStrike Joint Reduced Range Rocket (JR3), a training munition being developed to replace an aging US Army practice rocket used by artillery crews. The test took place at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, where multiple JR3 rounds were fired in rapid succession to evaluate range, trajectory, accuracy, and marking visibility. The trial also assessed whether the rocket’s launch pod could be recovered, maintained, and reused after firing. The program involves several industry partners and government production facilities, including Combined Systems, Corvid Technologies, L3Harris Technologies, Northrop Grumman, and Letterkenny Munitions Center. Raytheon said the team is preparing for further flight tests before the rocket proceeds to qualification. The JR3 is part of a US Army effort to replace the Low-Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket, a live-fire training munition used by crews operating the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). Unlike combat rockets, reduced-range practice rounds enable artillery crews to train with live-fire systems without using full-range ammunition. The Army currently uses its existing practice rocket for annual qualification and pre-deployment training. Raytheon’s DeepStrike JR3 employs a 24-rocket pod based on the established MLRS Family of Munitions configuration. The pod is designed for recovery and reuse after firing, potentially reducing training costs. Lockheed Martin is also developing a JR3 variant and completed its first successful flight test at White Sands Missile Range in September 2025. That trial demonstrated the rocket’s range, trajectory, and marking payload, as well as the launch tube’s ability to be reloaded and reused.
