U.S. Army approves PrSM missile production to extend firing range of HIMARS and M270A2 launchers.

According to information published by the U.S. Army on July 6, 2025, the service’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 1 program achieved Milestone C approval on July 2, 2025, officially transitioning to the Production and Deployment phase. This decision marks a major advancement in the U.S. Army’s long-range precision fires modernization effort, as PrSM Increment 1 is now cleared for full-rate production to equip artillery units with a powerful new missile capable of engaging targets beyond 400 kilometers.
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The U.S. Army's Precision Strike Missile Increment 1 reached Milestone C on July 2, 2025, clearing the way for full-scale production and deployment. (Picture source: U.S. Army)

Developed by the American Company Lockheed Martin, the PrSM (Precision Strike Missile) is a state-of-the-art surface-to-surface missile designed to replace the legacy Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), a system that has served the U.S. Army since the Cold War. The PrSM represents a significant evolution over ATACMS with a greater maximum range exceeding 400 kilometers, a reduced size that allows two missiles per launcher pod instead of one, and a modular open-systems architecture that supports future capability upgrades. It offers increased lethality, speed, and target precision, making it a decisive tool for destroying enemy air defenses, command centers, logistics hubs, and missile systems deep behind the front lines.

Unlike the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), which is currently the most widely used precision artillery munition by the U.S. Army and has a maximum range of about 84 kilometers, the PrSM extends striking distance by nearly fivefold. It provides commanders with a strategic fires option capable of targeting assets that were previously unreachable by U.S. ground-based fires, without relying on air or naval platforms. With its faster time-to-target, higher survivability against enemy countermeasures, and scalability for joint and coalition operations, PrSM enables the U.S. Army to deliver rapid and overwhelming effects across multiple domains.

The PrSM is launched from two of the U.S. Army’s primary rocket artillery platforms: the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). The M142 HIMARS is a wheeled, highly mobile launcher mounted on a 6x6 truck chassis, capable of rapidly deploying, firing, and relocating. Its lightweight design makes it C-130 transportable, ideal for rapid reaction forces and expeditionary operations. HIMARS provides the U.S. Army and other U.S. armed forces with strategic mobility, allowing for precision strikes in austere and fast-changing environments, as seen in operations across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and the Indo-Pacific.

The M270A2 MLRS is the upgraded tracked variant with increased armor, survivability, and a more robust payload capacity. It includes enhancements such as a new common fire control system, improved engine and suspension, and the ability to launch all current and future munitions including GMLRS, ATACMS, and PrSM. With its twin-pod configuration, the M270A2 can carry four PrSMs at once, delivering powerful saturation strikes against fortified or time-sensitive enemy positions. Its armored design allows it to operate in forward, high-threat areas where HIMARS may be more vulnerable.

Both HIMARS and M270A2 serve as core assets in the U.S. Army’s artillery forces and play vital roles in joint and combined arms operations across the U.S. armed forces. These systems support a range of missions from precision fire support in brigade combat teams to shaping operations in larger theater-level campaigns. With the integration of PrSM, they will gain an enhanced ability to deliver strategic deep fires at extended distances with pinpoint accuracy, reinforcing deterrence and warfighting capabilities in both conventional and multi-domain operations.

The fielding of PrSM Precision Strike Missile Increment 1 beginning in 2025 reaffirms the U.S. Army’s commitment to staying ahead of evolving threats by investing in superior range, speed, and adaptability. The missile’s deployment will dramatically expand the battlefield reach of U.S. ground forces and significantly bolster joint strike options, ensuring dominance in future high-intensity conflicts.