Pentagon Seeks Affordable Long-range Weapons, Testing Soon

WHO:

Defense News - The Pentagon and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) are involved in the development of new weapons.

WHAT:

Defense News - The Pentagon is seeking to develop long-range, autonomously guided Ground-Based Affordable Mass (GBAM) weapons that cost less than $250,000 each.

Military Times - The Pentagon aims for GBAM munitions to be ready for demonstration within three months and full-scale production within 18 months.

Military Times - The government has budgeted up to $250 million to support prize execution and follow-on transition activities associated with the GBAM initiative.

Military Times - Winning teams in the GBAM Challenge may receive up to $5 million to deliver operational test quantities to units.

WHERE:

Military Times - The Phase II flight demonstration will take place at a government test site.

WHEN:

Military Times - The deadline for contestants to submit ideas for the GBAM Challenge is August 5.

Military Times - The Phase II flight demonstration is scheduled for early November.

WHY:

Defense News - The initiative is a response to the U.S. running low on expensive guided munitions and the challenges exposed by the Iran war regarding reliance on costly long-range missiles like the Tomahawk.

Military Times - The goal of the GBAM initiative is to supplement expensive smart munitions with affordable, scalable long-range effects and to enable commanders to service a broader target set.

HOW:

Defense News - The GBAM Challenge will require contestants to pitch ideas in the form of a pitch deck or white paper.

Military Times - The Pentagon is looking for a ground-launched weapon with a range of at least 600 nautical miles and a minimum payload of 35 pounds, ideally allowing for 100 pounds.

Military Times - The weapon should have automatic target recognition and autonomous terminal guidance, and be capable of functioning in jamming and GPS-denied environments.

(UPDATED July 28, 2026 07:55 UTC)

The Pentagon, in collaboration with the Defense Innovation Unit, is working on developing new long-range, autonomously guided Ground-Based Affordable Mass weapons, which are intended to cost less than $250,000 each. The initiative aims to have these GBAM munitions ready for demonstration within three months and full-scale production within 18 months, with a budget of up to $250 million to support the project and potential prizes of up to $5 million for winning teams in the GBAM Challenge. Contestants must submit their ideas by August 5, and the Phase II flight demonstration is set for early November at a government test site, as the U.S. seeks to enhance its arsenal with more affordable and scalable long-range options.