U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division Deploys HIMARS and PrSM Missile for Indo-Pacific Long Range Fires.

The U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division is rapidly expanding its long-range strike power in the Indo-Pacific, fielding M142 HIMARS rockets/missile launcher systems, integrating the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), and overhauling its artillery command to deliver faster, farther, and more precise fires. Under Maj. Gen. James Bartholomees, the division is executing a “see, sense, and strike at distance” approach that links sensors to shooters across vast terrain, including forward operations in the Philippines.

This shift gives U.S. forces a sharper edge against peer threats by holding targets at risk from extended ranges while operating across dispersed island chains. By tightening the network between targeting and fires, the division strengthens deterrence, improves survivability, and ensures it can deliver decisive effects even in contested environments where speed and precision determine the outcome.

Read also: U.S. Army tests new PrSM Increment 2 ballistic missile from HIMARS to target moving ships at 350 km

U.S. Army HIMARS launcher executes a precision strike during training, illustrating long-range fire support with GMLRS and future PrSM capability in support of distributed operations in contested environments. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

By early 2026, the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division had converted a towed artillery battalion into a long-range fires battalion equipped with 16 HIMARS rocket/missile launchers in approximately 180 days. This rapid transition significantly increases operational reach, responsiveness, and survivability, enabling U.S. Army forces to conduct distributed operations across distances measured in hundreds of km while maintaining high mobility and reduced logistical exposure.

Operational experience from modern battlefields has validated HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems) as a decisive precision fires system. The platform delivers accurate strikes beyond 70 km using GMLRS while retaining the ability to rapidly displace within minutes after firing. This shoot-and-scoot capability has proven critical in environments saturated with drones, counter-battery radars, and long-range surveillance systems, where survivability depends on minimizing exposure time and avoiding detection.

In this exclusive Defense Web TV report, Army Recognition covers a U.S. Army M142 HIMARS live-fire exercise conducted near Klaipeda, Lithuania, alongside the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

The effectiveness of HIMARS is closely tied to its expanding munitions range, which provides commanders with scalable, mission-specific firepower. The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System family forms the backbone of current operations, including unitary high-explosive warheads for precision strikes against bunkers and infrastructure, as well as alternative warhead variants designed to engage area targets such as troop concentrations and lightly armored vehicles. Extended-range GMLRS increases engagement distances to approximately 150 km, allowing units to strike deeper targets while remaining outside many enemy threat envelopes.

HIMARS also retains the capability to fire the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), a short-range ballistic missile with a range up to 300 km. ATACMS provides a heavier payload for engaging high-value targets such as command posts, air defense systems, and logistics hubs. Although gradually being replaced, ATACMS continues to serve as a critical deep-strike capability during the transition to next-generation systems.

The introduction of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) represents a major leap in long-range fires capability. PrSM is designed to exceed 400 km in range, with future increments expected to incorporate advanced seekers for engaging moving and maritime targets. When integrated with HIMARS, this missile transforms the launcher into a theater-level strike asset capable of targeting operational and strategic objectives across vast geographic areas, including island chains and maritime corridors in the Indo-Pacific.

This diverse munition set provides significant advantages in fire support. Commanders can tailor effects based on target type, range, and operational context, improving efficiency and reducing the need for massed fires. Precision guidance minimizes collateral damage, while extended range enhances survivability by allowing launchers to operate farther from forward positions. The ability to rapidly switch between rocket and missile pods further increases flexibility in dynamic combat scenarios.

Under DIVARTY, the 25th Infantry Division has expanded its role beyond traditional fire support to include integrating sensors, shooters, and emerging technologies. Radar systems, electronic warfare assets, and intelligence platforms are now linked to HIMARS units, enabling rapid target acquisition and engagement. This sensor-to-shooter integration reduces decision timelines, enabling the division to exploit time-sensitive targets faster and with greater accuracy.

The division has also reorganized personnel to create new formations, including a Launched Effects battery that integrates loitering munitions and one-way attack drones. These systems provide additional strike options at shorter ranges, filling the gap between conventional artillery and long-range missile fires. In contested environments where air superiority cannot be guaranteed, these capabilities ensure continuous engagement of enemy forces from initial contact through deep strike operations.

Experimentation has been a central driver of this transformation. Soldiers are actively involved in testing emerging technologies and providing direct feedback to developers and acquisition authorities. This approach accelerates capability development and ensures that new systems are aligned with operational requirements. Capabilities validated through experimentation are integrated into training and multinational exercises across the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the Philippines, where terrain and infrastructure constraints reflect real-world operational conditions.

Sustainment and forward positioning remain critical challenges given the scale of the Indo-Pacific theater. The division is focusing on improving access to key locations, developing infrastructure, and enabling in-theater support for advanced systems. These efforts are essential to ensure that HIMARS, PrSM, and unmanned systems can be effectively employed and sustained during extended operations spanning thousands of km.

DIVARTY’s role as a central integrator of fires and sensing capabilities highlights a broader shift in U.S. Army doctrine toward multidomain operations. By combining long-range precision fires, unmanned systems, and networked sensors, the 25th Infantry Division is building a cohesive combat system capable of operating across dispersed formations while maintaining synchronized effects.

This transformation reflects the U.S. Army's adaptation to the demands of modern warfare in the Indo-Pacific. The integration of combat-proven HIMARS capabilities with advanced munitions and real-time sensing networks enhances deterrence by increasing the complexity and cost of adversary operations. It also provides commanders with the flexibility to deliver precise, scalable effects across the full depth of the battlespace, reinforcing the division’s role as a forward-operating force capable of responding rapidly to emerging threats in one of the world’s most strategically contested regions.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.