Modern warfare moves fast. Threats shift, technology evolves, and Soldiers need systems that can keep pace. Raytheon’s Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) was built for that reality. The adaptable, software-driven launcher is designed to handle multiple effectors, target adversaries beyond the line of sight, and process data collected by missiles in flight to contribute to a shared real-time picture of the battlefield—all while integrating seamlessly with the military’s next generation of combat vehicles.
“The MML delivers what wasn’t even thought possible just a few years ago,” said Brian Burton, vice president of Precision Fires and Maneuver at Raytheon. “We’re giving Soldiers the ability to see and respond faster, using a launcher that’s adaptable to whatever the mission requires.”
The Next-Generation Combat Vehicle
Raytheon, an RTX business, developed the MML for integration into American Rheinmetall’s next-generation combat-vehicle program solution and serves as a key member of the American Rheinmetall-led industry team advancing the vehicle’s design and capabilities. Within that design, the MML integrates alongside other advanced systems, including a high-performance 50 mm weapon turret with modern sensors, active-protection technologies and reinforced armor; a modular, open-systems architecture; and automation and AI that will reduce crew workload—supporting operation with a two-Soldier crew instead of three. These capabilities combine to form a more agile and connected ground platform built around survivability and mission adaptability.
Modular by Design
Just as the vehicle’s open architecture accommodates future technologies, the MML applies that same principle at the launcher level. Crews can tailor their loadout to match mission needs, combining precision anti-armor weapons with long-range munitions or collaborative unmanned systems. With the MML, the next-generation combat vehicle will be capable of firing all the Army’s chosen effectors, which can include Raytheon’s Coyote Block 3 family of unmanned aircraft systems and effectors for collaborative beyond-line-of-sight missions, and Javelin for fire-and-forget engagements. It is also ready for future integration of Raytheon’s TOW missile family for speed, range, and high-volume engagements.
“We’re giving the Warfighter the ability to configure their launcher for any mission,” Burton said. “With this type of adaptability, formations can shift from defense to offense faster, respond to emerging threats, and maintain overmatch across the battlespace.”
The MML achieves its flexibility through a combination of adaptable hardware and a software-defined fire-control system that enables updates without physical redesign. Traditional launchers rely on fixed hardware, meaning each new effector requires time-consuming and costly engineering work. By contrast, the MML is built slightly larger than conventional launchers and uses standardized physical connections, allowing it to accept a variety of effectors with minimal modification, provided they fit the established size and interface requirements.
This innovative architecture replaces the rigidity of legacy systems with a common framework that can be updated digitally. Like a computer, configurations can change through software rather than hardware rebuilds, allowing crews to adapt to new missions in hours instead of months. Within that same digital foundation, its modular fire-control system enables long-term growth by supporting future effectors that meet size, weight, and power requirements, ensuring the launcher evolves alongside emerging technologies.
For the Warfighter, that means fielding new capabilities at the speed of battle, simpler maintenance in the field, and less vehicle downtime between missions, turning what once took months of redesign into minutes of reprogramming.
Enhancing Survivability
Mechanized crews often operate with limited visibility, with the driver, gunner, and commander each restricted to narrow periscope views. It’s often described as “looking through a straw.” The MML changes that. Missiles launched from the system can collect sensor data during flight and relay it back to the crew, providing a clearer picture of the battlespace. The launcher extends vision beyond direct line of sight, revealing threats before they’re visible.
“Today, most launchers can only engage what they can see,” Burton said. “The MML enables ISR-capable effectors that can search, identify, and strike beyond the line of sight. Our software is what makes that possible.”
Combining live data from aerial and ground sensors into a unified display, AI and machine learning assist by showing friendly and adversary positions across the battlefield. “What you’ll see is a completely fused, continuously updated picture that allows every element of the formation to see the full operational arena,” Burton said. “That level of awareness transforms how units maneuver and fight, ultimately preserving overmatch.”
Systems like the MML are shaping how future formations will operate across connected domains, supporting a broader vision for a networked battlespace where sensors, shooters, and decision-makers share information instantly through AI-enabled data fusion. RTX’s ongoing advancements in AI, sensing, and integration technologies bring these capabilities together into a cohesive operational picture and shorten the decision loop. The result gives commanders faster, clearer insight to make decisive moves in complex environments.
From the outset, Raytheon designed the MML to not only be adaptable and reliable but also intuitive for the Soldier, with every aspect of the system reflecting those priorities to enhance survivability and reduce both physical and cognitive load for the crew. With quick reload capability and simplified field servicing, the MML stays mission-ready between operations, delivering consistent performance where it matters most.
A turret-mounted version of the launcher is planned for testing in early 2026, and Raytheon engineers see potential applications well beyond this program. The company is also planning live fire demonstrations over the next two years.
As the U.S. military faces an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving battlefield, Raytheon and American Rheinmetall remain committed to meeting the needs of today’s Warfighter. “Our Multi-Mission Launcher and American Rheinmetall’s next-generation combat vehicle are designed to meet those demands by delivering greater lethality, expanded capability, and the flexibility to integrate future effectors as missions evolve,” Burton said.