US Army Lockheed Martin: The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) has been in development for about eight years, following the U.S. military’s search for a replacement for the MGM-140 ATACMS. In 2020, Lockheed Martin won the contract to build the missile, beating competitors Boeing and Raytheon.
The PrSM is a long-range surface-to-surface missile designed to be launched from M142 HIMARS and M270A2 MLRS systems, with the ability to fire two missiles at once. It carries 200-pound pre-formed tungsten fragmentation warheads and can hit targets from 37 to 310 miles away.
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Although the missile has been tested before with Lockheed Martin personnel involved, the latest test was unique. For the first time, U.S. Army soldiers conducted the launch during a Soldier-led Limited User Test (LUT) at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, according to Autoevolution. The missile successfully reached its target, demonstrating its readiness for use.
While the exact timeline for its active service entry is unclear, Lockheed Martin was awarded a fourth Early Operational Capability (EOC) contract in March 2024, indicating that the missile’s deployment is likely coming soon.
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The PrSM features an open systems architecture, allowing it to evolve and adapt over time. It is also modular, so additional capabilities can be added as needed. Though initially developed for the U.S. military, other nations, including Australia and the UK, have shown interest in the missile, though their testing timelines have not yet been revealed.
