In another production qualification trial, the US Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) has completed a flight test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Two of the Lockheed Martin-developed weapons were launched in a long-range flight from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to neutralize targets, which included a mock SCUD missile, radar, and rotary wing platforms.
This test follows the system’s double salvo performance in November and the first soldier-led limited user test conducted in December last year.
Each successful demonstration testing the missiles’ capabilities against various types of targets advances the PrSM towards an expanded annual full-rate production of 400 missiles as part of a $120-million contract.
“We continue to validate production during qualification testing as we approach a full-rate production decision from the Army,” said Carolyn Orzechowski, company VP of Precision Fires Launchers and Missiles.
“The recent tests verify operational capability and volume of fires at various ranges, proving PrSM can launch in rapid succession.”
The PrSM
An all-weather surface-to-surface missile, the PrSM is intended to replace the US Army’s MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
It can be launched from the HIMARS and M270 to hit targets beyond 400 kilometers (248 miles) away — exceeding the ATACMS maximum range of 300 kilometers (186 miles) — and features an open systems architecture for seamless integration of future upgrades.
