Precision Strike Missile
The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a short-range ballistic missile being developed by the United States Army to replace the MGM-140 ATACMS.
Precision Strike Missile | |
---|---|
![]() Prototype test flight of the PrSM on December 10th 2019. at the White Sands Missile Range[1] | |
Type | Rocket artillery Short-range ballistic missile |
Place of origin | United States |
Production history | |
Designer | Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control |
Specifications | |
Length | 13 feet (4.0 m) |
Diameter | 17 inches (430 mm) |
Shell weight | 91 kg |
Maximum firing range | in excess of 310 mi (500 km) |
Launch platform | M270 MLRS, M142 HIMARS |
Development
In March 2016, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon announced they would offer 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 to fly faster and farther (originally out to 310 miles (500 km))[2] while also being thinner and sleeker, increasing loadout to two per pod, doubling the number carried by M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS launchers.[3][4] Boeing and Raytheon were involved in the competitive effort, but the latter left the competition in early 2020, leaving Lockheed Martin as the missile developer.[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' limitation previously placed upon it 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]
Advancements in designing and a potential ramjet could extend the weapon's range up to 1,000 kilometers.[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]
Operators
Future operators
Australia: Australian Army
United Kingdom: British Army – Not confirmed
United States: United States Army and United States Marine Corps
See also
References
- "US Army's Precision Strike Missile breaks range record". DefenseNews.com. 12 May 2021.
- 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.
- "Raytheon to offer new missile design for US Army's Long-Range Precision Fires requirement". www.armyrecognition.com. 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- "Raytheon to help Army develop new long-range artillery rocket for battlefield fire-support". Militaryaerospace.com. 16 March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- US Army’s Precision Strike Missile gets green light for development, readies for big test. Defense News. 11 October 2021.
- "Army Will Field 100 Km Cannon, 500 Km Missiles: LRPF CFT". Breaking Defense. 23 March 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
- "Army to Extend Range of Precision Strike Missile". National Defense Magazine. 16 October 2019. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- "Army Tests PrSM Seeker To Hunt Ships & SAMs". Breaking Defense. 4 June 2020. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- "US Army conducts 'static' test with ramjet for future Precision Strike Missile". www.janes.com. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- Vandermaarel, Cathy (28 July 2021). "US and Australian Defense Departments to partner on precision fires". Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation (Press release). Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- Defence Minister Peter Dutton (12 August 2021). "Australia and US partner to spearhead precision strike missile capability". Department of Defence Ministers (Press release). Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- "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.
External links
Precision Strike Missile - product descriptions on the website of Lockheed Martin
Media related to Precision Strike Missile at Wikimedia Commons