Precision Strike Missile
Prototype test flight of the PrSM on December 10th 2019. at the White Sands Missile Range[1]
TypeRocket artillery
Short-range ballistic missile
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerLockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control
Specifications
Length13 feet (4.0 m)
Diameter17 inches (430 mm)
Shell weight91 kg
Maximum firing rangein excess of 310 mi (500 km)
Launch
platform
M270 MLRS, M142 HIMARS

The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a short-range ballistic missile developed by the United States Army to replace the MGM-140 ATACMS.

Development

In March 2016, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon announced they would bid on a missile to meet the U.S. Army's Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) requirement to replace the ATACMS. The PrSM will use advanced propulsion technology to fly faster and farther (originally out to 499 km (310 mi)).[2] It is also designed to be thinner and sleeker, increasing the number of missiles per pod to two, and doubling the capacity of the M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS launchers.[3][4] Boeing and Raytheon were involved in the competitive effort, but both left the competition in early 2020, leaving Lockheed Martin to develop the missile.[5] The weapon is planned to achieve initial operational capability in 2023; the initial PrSM will only be able to hit stationary targets on land, but later versions will track moving targets on land and sea.[6] With the United States withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the range of the PrSM will be increased beyond the 499 km (310 mi) limitation imposed by the treaty.[7]

In June 2020, the Army had begun testing a new multi-mode seeker – an upgrade for the Precision Strike Missile – even though the missile would not enter service until 2023, the upgraded seeker is expected to be part of a major program improvement planned for 2025.[8]

Technological advancements including the potential application of ramjet technology could extend the weapon's range up to 1,000 km (620 mi).[9]

In July 2021, the US announced that Australia had become a partner in the PrSM Program with the Australian Army signing a memorandum of understanding for Increment 2 of the program with the US Army's Defense Exports and Cooperation and had contributed US$54 million.[10][11]

The United Kingdom, as part of an upgrade to the British Army’s M270 MLRS to the M270A2 standard, has hinted that it may possibly acquire PrSM.[12]

On December 8, 2023, the US Army announced that the first PrSM has been delivered.[13]

Operators

Future operators

 Australia
 United Kingdom
 United States

See also

References

  1. ^ Judson, Jen (12 May 2021). "US Army's Precision Strike Missile breaks range record". Defense News. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021.
  2. ^ Freedberg Jr, Sydney J. (26 April 2016). "Winning The Missile Wars: Army & Navy Tech In HASC NDAA". breakingdefense.com. Breaking Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Raytheon to offer new missile design for US Army's Long-Range Precision Fires requirement". Army Recognition. 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  4. ^ Keller, John (16 March 2016). "Raytheon to help Army develop new long-range artillery rocket for battlefield fire-support". Military Aerospace. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  5. ^ Judson, Jen (11 October 2021). "US Army's Precision Strike Missile gets green light for development, readies for big test". Defense News. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021.
  6. ^ Freedberg Jr, Sydney J. (23 March 2018). "Army Will Field 100 Km Cannon, 500 Km Missiles: LRPF CFT". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  7. ^ Lee, Connie (16 October 2019). "Army to Extend Range of Precision Strike Missile". National Defense Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  8. ^ Freedberg Jr, Sydney J. (4 June 2020). "Army Tests PrSM Seeker To Hunt Ships & SAMs". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  9. ^ Roque, Ashley (13 May 2022). "US Army conducts 'static' test with ramjet for future Precision Strike Missile". Janes. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  10. ^ Vandermaarel, Cathy (28 July 2021). "US and Australian Defense Departments to partner on precision fires". U.S. Defense Exports and Cooperation. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  11. ^ Dutton, Peter (12 August 2021). "Australia and US partner to spearhead precision strike missile capability". minister.defence.gov.au. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Upgrades to Multiple Launch Rocket Systems Strengthen Deep Fires Capability". British Army. 31 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  13. ^ Judson, Jen (8 December 2023). "US Army receives first long-range Precision Strike Missiles". Defense News. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2023.

External links

Precision Strike Missile - product descriptions on the website of Lockheed Martin

Media related to Precision Strike Missile at Wikimedia Commons

1963 United States Tri-Service missile designations, 1963–present
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