# Joint Reduced Range Rocket (JR3) — Program Element 0605244A

**Program element:** 0605244A  
**Component:** U.S. Army  
**Appropriation:** 2040 — RDT&E, Army  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605244A

## Summary

U.S. Army funding falls 45% to a $16.0M request in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak), with nothing planned by FY2031. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate added 94% (to $31.0M); House appropriators funded it in full. AvMC leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 13.1 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 28.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 16.0 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 23.1 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 18.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 3.8 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 16.0 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 16.0 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 31.0 | +15.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 16.0 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJ3 | Joint Reduced Range Rocket | 13.1 | 28.9 | 16.0 | −45% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project DJ3 — Joint Reduced Range Rocket

In order to achieve and maintain combat readiness, the Army has a Standards in Training Commission (STRAC) requirement that utilizes a training rocket to meet the annual certification and pre-deployment requirements for Active and National Guard High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and M270A1/M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launcher units. The Joint Reduced Range Rocket (JR3) is required because the remaining inventory of launch pod containers and motors is insufficient to support LCRRPR production beyond FY 2030. The total cost of the JR3 Middle Tier of Acquisition Rapid Prototyping (MTA RP) effort is $115.7 million RDT&E from FY 2025 to FY 2030. FY 2027 funding continues rapid prototyping with a flight demonstration and initiates qualification of the JR3. Upon completion of development and qualification, the JR3 will replace the currently fielded LCRRPR.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** AvMC (2.6, 16%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Reduced Range Rocket | 13.1 | 28.9 | 16.0 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 16% | 2.6 |
| Other / unspecified | 84% | 13.5 |

**Top named industry performers:** AvMC ($2.6M, 16%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

In order to achieve and maintain combat readiness, the Army has a Standards in Training Commission (STRAC) requirement that utilizes a training rocket to meet the annual certification and pre-deployment requirements for Active and National Guard High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and M270A1/M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launcher units. The Joint Reduced Range Rocket (JR3) is required because the remaining inventory of launch pod containers and motors is insufficient to support LCRRPR production beyond FY 2030. The total cost of the JR3 Middle Tier of Acquisition Rapid Prototyping (MTA RP) effort is $115.7 million RDT&E from FY 2025 to FY 2030.

JR3 is a Middle Tier of Acquisition Rapid Prototyping effort that will develop and qualify a replacement for the LCRRPR. JR3 must begin production by FY 2030 to support HIMARS and MLRS crew training requirements. LCRRPR utilizes solid rocket motors last built in the mid-90s and inventories will be depleted by FY 2030 with no ability to replenish using current assets. The JR3 program shall leverage available rocket motor technologies to develop a new training rocket that results in a configuration that is affordable and supports the required production timeline. The JR3 rocket shall be integrated into a launch pod container (LPC) that shall be compatible with current HIMARS and MLRS launchers.

## Related program elements

- [0603778A — MLRS Product Improvement Program](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603778A) (Army)
- [0606775D8Z — Joint Production Accelerator Cell (JPAC)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0606775D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0205778A — Guided Multiple-Launch Rocket System (GMLRS)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0205778A) (Army)
- [0604366N — Standard Missile Improvements](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604366N) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0605244A (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0605244A")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*