Army Advances CAML for Future Autonomous Firepower
The Department of the Army is intensifying its push to modernize long-range fires capabilities by pursuing innovative unmanned systems, according to a recent article titled “Army eyes industry input for Common Autonomous Multi-domain Launcher (CAML) effort” published by DefenseScoop. As the U.S. military recalibrates its force posture to counter peer adversaries, the new initiative underscores the service’s commitment to rapidly acquiring advanced technologies that can deliver precision effects across multiple domains with fewer risks to human operators.
At the center of this effort is the Army’s development of a Common Autonomous Multi-domain Launcher, or CAML. According to recently released Requests for Information (RFIs), the service is seeking input from industry on concepts that could support modular, remotely operated, and potentially AI-enabled launch platforms capable of firing a range of munitions. These launchers would serve as critical components of a future integrated fires architecture, envisioned to operate in contested environments with greater survivability and operational flexibility.
The RFIs, issued by the Army’s Strategic and Operational Rockets and Missiles (STORM) Project Office, reportedly signal an early but substantive step in shaping the requirements for CAML. The office is exploring a launcher concept that could be platform-agnostic, adaptable for use on wheeled, tracked, and potentially maritime or aerial platforms. This modularity could allow the Army to tailor the system for varied operational contexts, such as distributed operations in the Indo-Pacific or high-intensity conflict in Europe.
While CAML remains in pre-development stages, its alignment with broader Department of Defense priorities is evident. The Pentagon has frequently emphasized the need to enable dispersed, resilient fires capabilities that can function independently in electronic warfare environments. Integrating a launcher with autonomy and common interfaces aligns with Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) objectives, which call for networked sensors and shooters across the services.
Officials have not yet specified what types of munitions the CAML might employ, but DefenseScoop notes that the service is looking at systems capable of launching surface-to-surface, surface-to-air, or even non-kinetic payloads. Providing this flexibility within a single system would represent a major step forward in allowing commanders to switch between mission roles without the logistical burden of maintaining multiple specialized platforms.
The Army’s move comes amid growing interest in autonomy-driven force design. Similar to how other services are investing in unmanned aerial and maritime systems, CAML could become a prototype for how ground forces integrate autonomous weapons in support of multi-domain operations. The vision would see units deployed across dispersed battlefields leveraging CAMLs to launch strikes while minimizing exposure to counter-battery fire or surveillance.
The DefenseScoop article notes that while the RFIs do not guarantee a formal program of record, responses from industry could inform future prototyping or demonstration phases. By inviting feedback early in the concept development cycle, Army leaders hope to tap private-sector innovation and avoid redundant or obsolete solutions.
As timelines for major defense acquisition programs continue to shift in response to global threats, CAML may offer a test case for how quickly the Army can move from concept to fielded capability in the domain of autonomous systems. If the service can maintain momentum and bring in the right commercial partners, it may chart a path toward the next generation of intelligent, networked fires platforms.
