US Army conducts Precision Strike Missile flight test from HIMARS launcher

News, US February 18, 2025 , by IRIA No Comments

3 minute read

U.S. Army and American leading defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin successfully completed a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) production qualification flight test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

During the test, the U.S. Army fired two Precision Strike Missiles from a HIMARS launcher in a long-range flight to hit a target set. The test validated the system’s accuracy and readiness.

The demonstration follows successful flights in November and the first soldier-led test in December 2024. This series of flight tests is a key phase in Lockheed Martin’s missile development, validating reliability, performance, and effectiveness before deployment in combat.

Vice president of Precision Fires Launchers and Missiles at Lockheed Martin, Carolyn Orzechowski said, “We continue to validate production during qualification testing as we approach a full-rate production decision from the Army.”

“The recent tests verify operational capability and volume of fires at various ranges, proving PrSM can launch in rapid succession,” Orzechowski added. The test comes after a contract award of up to $120 million for tooling to scale production capacity to 400 missiles annually.

The PrSM is the next-generation, long-range precision-strike missile designed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Army. The surface-to-surface missile is capable of neutralizing targets out to more than 400 kilometers and aims to enhance the U.S. Army’s capabilities to attack, neutralize, suppress, and destroy targets.

It has advanced guidance systems to ensure pinpoint accuracy and is effective against enemy air defense, command centers, and high-value assets. The PrSM has completed multiple flight tests, demonstrating its ability to integrate with emerging technologies and engage targets at extended ranges. The program remains a priority for the U.S. Army’s long-range precision fires (LRPF) modernization efforts.\

*^{HIMARS missile system in Poland. (Image Credit: U.S. Army/Markus Rauchenberger)}*

According to the Lockheed Martin statement, “PrSM provides the Joint Force Commander with increased range, lethality, survivability, and missile load out. These enhanced capabilities are critical to the successful execution of fires in support of combined Joint All-Domain Operations.”

“The new surface-to-surface weapon features an open systems architecture design for maximum affordability and flexibility, is modular for future growth, and is HIMARS and M270 compatible,” the statement added.

PrSM Specifics

Two PrSM rounds per launch pod
Ranges from 60 to 499+ kilometers
Open systems architecture
Modular and easily adaptable
IM energetic payload
Compatible with MLRS M270 and HIMARS family of launchers

Last year in December, the U.S. Army completed its first Soldier-led Limited User Test (LUT) of PrSM. As the PrSM program advances, Lockheed Martin continues integrating 21st Century Security technologies into baseline and future variants to support interoperability and maritime operations.

Lockheed Martin’s next-generation Extended-Range GMLRS and Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) can only be fired by M270A2 and HIMARS launchers. PrSM is set to replace the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which have been in service with the U.S. Army for over three decades.

The U.S. Army’s existing long-range missile system, ATACMS, was designed in the 1970s and built in the 1980s. It is capable of flying only a range of about 300 kilometers. Deployment of PrSM would significantly enhance the U.S. military’s long-range strike capabilities.