Lockheed Martin's new PrSM: Setting new standards in missile tech
The American corporation Lockheed Martin has boasted another successful test of the short-range ballistic missile, Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). We present what the successor to the effective ATACMS will offer the US Army.
According to the corporation Lockheed Martin, the test was conducted at the White Sands Missile Range in the state of New Mexico. The trial was part of the process of verifying the production quality of missiles from the fourth early production series contracted in March 2024. It involved launching a pair of PrSM missiles to check the mid-course guidance system and hit designated targets.
The positive conclusion of the test was commented on by Carolyn Orzechowski, who holds the position of Vice President of the Precision Fires Launchers and Missiles division at Lockheed Martin. "PrSM demonstrates exceptional system performance and reliability. We continue to advance this credible deterrent, integrating 21st Century Security technologies into the baseline and future variants in support of cross-domain and maritime operations," she said.
PrSM — the successor to the MGM-140 ATACMS with greater capabilities
The new missiles being developed under the program initiated in 2017 are expected to offer a range of over 500 kilometres, greater precision, and enhanced launcher firepower, as two missiles will fit into one launch container, unlike the well-performing MGM-140 ATACMS, which was effective against Russian targets, where only one missile fits. This means that the M142 HIMARS will carry two units, and the M270 MLRS will carry as many as four.
Exact details are not known, but it's likely that the PrSM missiles will have a smaller warhead weighing approximately 90 kilograms. However, it is worth noting that in the age of programmable fuses, a comparable destructive effect of a larger warhead can be achieved using a smaller one. A good example here is the fuse from the Swedish-German TAURUS KEPD 350 cruise missile, capable of counting floors to detonate at a specific bunker level.
Americans' great ambitions
A smaller warhead and newer miniaturised electronics leave more room for rocket fuel, which, combined with a higher-efficiency engine, allows for a longer reach. The current version, PrSM Increment One, is expected to have a classic tandem INS and GPS. Starting from version Increment Two, it will have an increased range of up to 1,000 kilometres and an additional guiding warhead, allowing it to hit moving targets even in strong GPS signal jamming conditions.
It is possible that it will be an optoelectronic warhead that detects the thermal image of the target, as is the case with the AGM-158 JASSM. This provides pinpoint accuracy even amidst GPS jamming because the missile independently searches for an object that matches the designated target's signature in the final flight phase. Another option is an active radar warhead, and this variant is scheduled for completion by 2028.
