US Army investing in extended-range Precision Strike Missile

An illustration of an extended-range Precision Strike Missile. Lockheed Martin is one of two industry teams working on the US Army's Precision Strike Missile Increment 4. (Lockheed Martin)

US defence companies have begun competing for the fourth increment of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM Inc 4), officials said on 27 March.

Lockheed Martin and a team of Raytheon Technologies and Northrop Grumman announced they will participate in the army's science and technology (S&T) effort for an extended-range version of the weapon system, which is a cornerstone of the US Army's long-range fires modernisation effort. Army officials said on 28 March the new weapon – now called the Long Range Manoeuvrable Fires missile – is in the S&T phase that is ahead of Inc 3 in the development schedule.

Commander of Army Futures Command (AFC) General James Rainey said PrSM Inc 1 and its future increments are a part of the “aggressive” pursuit of long-range fires meant to help the service operate across domains. It is one of the 24 systems the army has promised to deliver in fiscal year (FY) 2023, and the Lockheed Martin-designed system will eventually replace the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).

“This is why this is transformational technology – the ability of land-based fires to affect not just the land but other places,” Gen Rainey told reporters at the Association of the US Army Global Force 2023 conference in Huntsville, Alabama.

The army is also developing intermediary increments of the missile for different operational needs, according to budget documents. PrSM Inc 2 goes after maritime and relocated land targets and is expected to reach early capability by FY 2027, the budget documents show.