The US Army announced on 8 December 2023 that it had received an initial delivery of Precision Strike Missiles (PrSMs).
The delivery of PrSM Increment 1 Early Operational Capability missiles follows successful production qualification testing in November at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the PrSM is the army’s next-generation Long Range Precision Fires weapon. Launched from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, it is capable of neutralising targets at stand-off ranges greater than 400 km.
The PrSM also features an open-systems architecture design to accommodate future growth.
“The Precision Strike Missile will provide Joint Force commanders with a 24/7, all-weather capability that will counter the enemy’s ability to conduct combat manoeuvre and air defence operations,” Doug Bush, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, was quoted as saying in a US Army press release. “The rapid development and delivery of this capability is a prime example of the army’s aggressive use of new acquisition authorities from Congress that allow us to move at much greater speed to get improved equipment to soldiers,” he added.
The PrSM is a key weapon system for overturning what was previously seen as a Russian overmatch in long-range fires.
