Flash News: US Army conducts flight test of new PrSM missile extending long-range capabilities of HIMARS launcher.

The U.S. Army successfully conducted a flight test of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 1 on March 19, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Launched from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), the test marked a significant milestone in the Army's Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) initiative, reinforcing the capabilities of its next-generation surface-to-surface missile system. As a highly precise and long-range weapon, PrSM offers enhanced battlefield reach, rapid target engagement, and the flexibility to strike high-value threats across all domains of conflict.
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A U.S. Army M142 HIMARS launches a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) during a flight test, demonstrating the system's extended range and enhanced precision strike capabilities. (Picture source: U.S. Army)

Launched from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), the PrSM Precision Strike Missile demonstrated extended-range flight performance over the Pacific Ocean, following a stable and controlled trajectory. The U.S. Army confirmed on March 21 that all test objectives were achieved, with nominal performance across all measured parameters.

This successful evaluation further validates PrSM’s integration with current launcher platforms and its readiness to provide superior long-range strike capabilities in modern combat scenarios. The test reflects the missile’s growing role in supporting the U.S. Army’s multi-domain operations.

The PrSM is being developed as a replacement for the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), offering a substantial leap in range, lethality, and targeting flexibility. The core technical features of the Precision Strike Missile include a maximum range exceeding 400 kilometers, allowing deep precision engagement of strategic targets far behind enemy lines. Each missile is housed in a Launch Pod Missile Container (LPMC) capable of carrying two missiles, thereby doubling the loadout compared to the single-shot ATACMS.

PrSM is fully compatible with existing U.S. Army launcher platforms, specifically the M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). This backward compatibility ensures seamless integration into current field artillery units without the need for new launch infrastructure.

Another critical technical aspect is its survivability in high-threat environments, designed to withstand modern anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) systems. The missile is compliant with both cluster munitions and insensitive munition requirements, ensuring safety and adherence to evolving battlefield and legal standards.

PrSM is being developed with an open systems architecture, providing a modular and upgradeable design that allows the system to adapt to new and emerging threats. Its evolution is structured in capability increments: Increment 1, currently in testing, delivers the ability to engage moving ground and maritime targets. Increment 2 will introduce increased lethality, and Increment 3 is expected to extend the missile’s operational range even further.

Operationally, PrSM provides a 24/7, all-weather precision strike capability, enabling Joint Force Commanders to attack a wide spectrum of time-sensitive and high-value targets. These include enemy air defense systems, mobile missile launchers, command and control nodes, troop assembly areas, and other critical infrastructure across the depths of the multi-domain battlefield.

In tactical scenarios, PrSM allows U.S. and allied forces to conduct strategic strikes from stand-off distances, disrupting enemy command structures, degrading integrated air defense networks, and shaping the battlefield before direct contact. Its speed, precision, and range make it a formidable tool to suppress enemy maneuver operations and limit their ability to conduct coordinated attacks.

This latest flight test underscores the U.S. Army's commitment to enhancing its precision fires capability and maintaining technological superiority. As development progresses through successive increments, the PrSM is poised to become a cornerstone in the Army’s long-range strike arsenal, significantly improving lethality, range, and adaptability for future high-intensity conflicts.