US expands PrSM missile program in multibillion-dollar defence push

The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin an additional contract modification to accelerate the production of hundreds of Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), according to Pentagon data.

With an additional $8.4 billion allocated to the program, the total value of the contract has risen to $13.3 billion. The agreement is set to run through September 2032, with the US Army expected to receive up to 400 missiles annually.

According to an assessment by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the United States expended nearly its entire stockpile of these weapons during its military operation against Iran.

The Precision Strike Missile is a next-generation long-range precision-guided weapon designed to provide critical capabilities for striking, suppressing, and destroying targets. The missile currently has a range of 499 kilometres, which is planned to be extended to 1,000 kilometres in future variants.

PrSM is replacing the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a range of 300 kilometres and has long served as the US Army’s primary operational-tactical missile.

The missiles are compatible with existing mobile launch platforms, including the tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System and the wheeled M142 HIMARS. Each launcher is capable of carrying two PrSM missiles.

By Jeyhun Aghazada