Engineering:Precision Strike Missile
| 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 |
The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a short-range ballistic missile developed by the United States Army to replace the MGM-140 ATACMS.
Development
In March 2016, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon announced they would bid on 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 technology to fly faster and farther (originally out to 499 km (310 mi)).[2] 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.[3][4] Boeing and Raytheon were involved in the competitive effort, but both left the competition in early 2020, leaving Lockheed Martin to develop the missile.[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 (310 mi) limitation imposed 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]
Technological advancements including the potential application of ramjet technology could extend the weapon's range up to 1,000 km (620 mi).[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]
On December 8, 2023, the US Army announced that the first PrSM has been delivered.[13]
Operators
Future operators
Australia
- Australian Army
United Kingdom
- British Army – Not confirmed
United States
- United States Army
- United States Marine Corps
See also
References
- ↑ Judson, Jen (12 May 2021). "US Army's Precision Strike Missile breaks range record". https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/05/12/armys-precision-strike-missile-breaks-range-record/.
- ↑ Freedberg Jr, Sydney J. (26 April 2016). "Winning The Missile Wars: Army & Navy Tech In HASC NDAA". Breaking Media, Inc.. http://breakingdefense.com/2016/04/winning-the-missile-wars-army-navy-tech-in-hasc-ndaa/.
- ↑ "Raytheon to offer new missile design for US Army's Long-Range Precision Fires requirement". 17 March 2016. http://www.armyrecognition.com/march_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/raytheon_to_offer_new_missile_design_for_us_army_s_long-range_precision_fires_requirement_21703161.html.
- ↑ Keller, John (16 March 2016). "Raytheon to help Army develop new long-range artillery rocket for battlefield fire-support". http://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/2016/03/artillery-rocket-fire-support.html.
- ↑ Judson, Jen (11 October 2021). "US Army’s Precision Strike Missile gets green light for development, readies for big test". https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/10/11/us-armys-precision-strike-missile-gets-green-light-for-development-readies-for-big-test/.
- ↑ Freedberg Jr, Sydney J. (23 March 2018). "Army Will Field 100 Km Cannon, 500 Km Missiles: LRPF CFT". https://breakingdefense.com/2018/03/army-will-field-100-km-cannon-500-km-missiles-lrpf-cft/.
- ↑ Lee, Connie (16 October 2019). "Army to Extend Range of Precision Strike Missile". https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2019/10/16/army-to-extend-range-of-precision-strike-missile.
- ↑ Freedberg Jr, Sydney J. (4 June 2020). "Army Tests PrSM Seeker To Hunt Ships & SAMs". https://breakingdefense.com/2020/06/army-tests-prsm-seeker-to-hunt-ships-sams/.
- ↑ Roque, Ashley (13 May 2022). "US Army conducts 'static' test with ramjet for future Precision Strike Missile". https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-army-conducts-static-test-with-ramjet-for-future-precision-strike-missile. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ↑ Vandermaarel, Cathy (28 July 2021). "US and Australian Defense Departments to partner on precision fires". https://www.dasadec.army.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2710812/us-and-australian-defense-departments-to-partner-on-precision-fires/.
- ↑ Dutton, Peter (12 August 2021). "Australia and US partner to spearhead precision strike missile capability". https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2021-08-12/australia-and-us-partner-spearhead-precision-strike-missile-capability.
- ↑ "Upgrades to Multiple Launch Rocket Systems Strengthen Deep Fires Capability". British Army. 31 March 2021. https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/03/mlrs-upgrade-agreement/. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ↑ Judson, Jen (8 December 2023). "US Army receives first long-range Precision Strike Missiles". https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/12/08/us-army-receives-first-long-range-precision-strike-missiles/.
External links
Precision Strike Missile - product descriptions on the website of Lockheed Martin
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