Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) has successfully completed a series of US Army soldier-led flight tests at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) has successfully completed a series of US Army soldier-led flight tests at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
The tests conducted in September marked the first time that multiple PrSMs were launched from both the wheeled M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the tracked M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
The trials demonstrated the missiles’ long-range performance against targets and their compatibility with Lockheed Martin-built launch platforms, as well as their capacity to meet the “success criteria for lethality, range, and accuracy from launch to impact.”
Carolyn Orzechowski, VP of Precision Fires Launchers and Missiles at Lockheed Martin, said that the milestone event “validates the soldier’s ability to fire PrSM from all platforms in the US Army inventory and certifies mission readiness.”
Next-Generation Warhead
The PrSM can engage targets at ranges exceeding 400 kilometers (249 miles), and it is meant to replace the aging Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a shorter range of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles).
Measuring 156 inches long (396 centimeters) with a 17-inch (43-centimeter) diameter, the missile comes with a modular and open systems architecture for easy integration and upgrades to meet evolving threats.
Compared to the ATACMS, it provides double the loadout capacity with two rounds per launch pod.
Meanwhile, both the PrSM and ATACMS are deployable from the M270 and M142 launchers.
In July, the PrSM program moved into full-rate production and deployment following Milestone C approval.
