HIMARS successfully launched a PrSM Increment 1 missile to a range of less than 85 kilometres - the high-precision projectile will be a replacement for ATACMS

Lockheed Martin has announced the successful short-range Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) test. The company wrote about it in a press release published on its official website. A detailed report on the test will appear in December 2023.

Here's What We Know

PrSM is a replacement for the ATACMS tactical ballistic missile, which has a launch range of up to 300 kilometres. The test took place at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The test brings the US Army closer to taking the new weapon into service.

The PrSM will have a maximum range of more than 1,000 kilometres in further configurations. Lockheed Martin is now working on Increment 1 with a range of about 500 km, a 67-200% increase over different ATACMS variants.

In tests in New Mexico, the missile was launched to a range of less than 85 kilometres. The company did not disclose the exact distance. Perhaps we will learn about it from the December report. Lockheed Martin only stated that this was the shortest range of the flight.

Although hitting targets within a range of less than 85 kilometres is not the PrSM's primary mission, this particular launch allows the missile to be tested in the most stressful and dynamic environment. The test allowed structural integrity and trajectory control to be verified.

The M142 HIMARS missile system was used for the test launch. The M270 MLRS system will also be able to employ the PrSM. After the successful test, the likelihood of the new missile being in service by early 2024 has increased.

Source: Lockheed Martin