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Precision Strike Missile

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For the general concept, see Precision-guided munition.

Precision Strike Missile
Prototype test flight of the PrSM on 10 December 2019, at the White Sands Missile Range[1]
TypeRocket artillery
Short-range ballistic missile
Anti-ship ballistic missile
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerLockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control
Specifications
Massunknown
Length13 ft (4.0 m)
Diameter17 in (430 mm)
Maximum firing range≥ 310 mi (500 km)
Warheadpre-formed tungsten fragmentation warhead
Warhead weight200 lb (91 kg)
PropellantSolid-propellant rocket
Guidance
system
Base: INS + GPS
Land-based anti-ship missile: Base + anti-radiation seeker + Imaging Infrared (IIR)[2]
Launch
platform
M270 MLRS, M142 HIMARS

The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM; PRI-zim) is a short-range ballistic missile developed by the United States Army to replace the MGM-140 ATACMS. The US Army announced that the first PrSM batch has been delivered in December 2023.

Development

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In March 2016, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon announced they would bid on a missile to meet the US 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 310 mi or 500 km).[3] 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.[4][5] Boeing and Raytheon were involved in the competitive effort, but both left the competition in early 2020, leaving Lockheed Martin to develop the missile.[6] 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.[7] With the United States withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the range of the PrSM is to be increased beyond the 310 mi (500 km) limitation imposed by the treaty.[8]

In June 2020, the Army had begun testing a new multi-mode seeker, an upgrade for the Precision Strike Missile. The upgraded seeker is expected to be part of a major program improvement planned for 2025.[9] Technological advancements including the potential application of ramjet technology could extend the weapon's range up to 620 mi (1,000 km).[10]

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 (Land-Based Anti-Ship Missile) of the program with the US Army's Defense Exports and Cooperation and had contributed US$54 million.[11][12] In January 2024, Australia committed to continue the partnership with the United States and will subsequently also purchase PrSM Increments 3 and 4.[13] This will extend the range of Australia's PrSM missiles beyond 620 mi and will potentially rival Australia's longest range missile, the BGM-109 Tomahawk.[14]

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.[15]

On 8 December 2023, the US Army announced that the first PrSM batch has been delivered.[16]

On 17 June 2024, the decommissioned Austin-class amphibious transport dock USS Cleveland was sunk as a target ship in the North Pacific Ocean's Mariana Island Range Complex, apparently in the 1st test of the PrSM on a moving target.[17]

On 26 August 2024, it was announced that the US has turned down a request from Norway to acquire the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).[18]

Variants

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The PrSM currently has four 'increments' either in development or to be developed.

Increment One

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Increment One is the current missile in use by the United States Army. It has a treaty-bound range of 310 mi (500 km), and does not contain a multi-mode seeker.[19] It is gradually replacing the MGM-140 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.

Land Based Anti-Ship Missile (Inc 2)

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Increment Two of the PrSM is known officially as the Land Based Anti-Ship Missile (LBASM). LBASM features a multi-mode seeker, unlike Increment One, enabling it to traverse area denied areas with more ease.[20] As LBASM was in development following the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, its range is to be increased beyond the previous 310 mi (500 km) threshold, up to an expected 620 mi (1,000 km) range, as well as increasing the speed of the missile.[21] As the name suggests, the LBASM will be an anti-ship ballistic missile, and in collaboration with the multi-mode seeker will have the ability to engage moving targets.[22] It is understood that the first procurement of the missile is to be completed in FY2028, with the United States Marine Corps and the Australian Army then receiving them.[22]

A first live test was conducted in 2024.[23]

Increment Three

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Increment Three of the missile will include most of the same technology of Increments One and Two. Its main addition is to be the extension of the variety of armaments for the missile can carry, with it likely carrying more explosive munitions.[24] For Increment Three it is to be designed for use as an anti-fortification weapon, likely being able to destroy more structures.[24] There is no information available as to when Increment Three is to be procured by the United States Armed Forces or the Australian Army. However it is believed they will be made available following Increments one, two and four.[25]

Increment Four

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Increment Four has a focus on the extension of the range of the missile, whilst containing most of the technology of Increments One, Two, and likely Three. Four will aim to extend the range beyond the 310 mi (500 km) range of Increment One, as well as the 620 mi (1,000 km) range of Increment Two.[24] It will advance the technology of propulsion, and aerodynamics to achieve this range.[24] Increment Four is currently being competed for contracts by; Lockheed Martin, as well as a combined Raytheon-Northrop Grumman team.[26]

Operators

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Current operators

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 United States

Future operators

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 Australia
 United States

Potential operators

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 United Kingdom

Cancelled or rejected sales

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 Norway - US denied sale of PrSM and ER-GMLRS.[27][28]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Australia will procure Increments; Two, Three, and Four.

References

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  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. ^ "Lockheed Martin starts building early versions of land-based PRSM precision missile with multi-mode guidance". 7 November 2023.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Australia Commits To Precision Strike Missile Increments 3, 4". Aviationweek.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  14. ^ https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-08-21/missiles-power-adfs-range
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "US soldiers just put the Army's new Precision Strike Missile to the test against a moving sea target in the Pacific". Business Insider via MSN. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  18. ^ Schwenke, Ylva (26 August 2024). "USA sier nei til norsk kjøp av nytt langdistanse-missil".
  19. ^ Roque, Ashley (8 December 2023). "Lockheed begins delivering long-range PrSM Increment 1 to Army". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  20. ^ Bisht, Inder Singh (14 May 2024). "US Army Issues Precision Strike Missile Increment 2 Requirements". The Defense Post. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Army issues sources-sought notice for PrSM Increment 2 | InsideDefense.com". insidedefense.com. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Precision Strike Missile Increment 2 (PrSM Inc 2)". govtribe.com. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  23. ^ "U.S. Army Conducts First Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile SINKEX using PrSM". Naval News. 23 June 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d Abaire, Olawale (19 March 2024). "Army Adds Payload, Seeker & Range Improvements to Its Precision-Strike Missile". Warrior Maven: Center for Military Modernization. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  25. ^ Roque, Ashley (27 March 2023). "Army taps teams to build new Precision Strike Missile for targets beyond 1,000 km". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  26. ^ Ferguson, Gregor (17 December 2023). "Lockheed Martin delivers first Precision Strike Missiles to US Army - EX2 for Defence Innovators". Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  27. ^ "U.S. denies sale of PrSM and ER GMLRS missiles to Norway". 26 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  28. ^ "The U.S. Denies Norway PrSM Missiles | TURDEF". turdef.com. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
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