01 May 2020

US Army test-fires PrSM prototype at shorter range

by Ashley Roque

Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control has test-fired its US Army Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) prototype for the third time with this go-around striking a target at a closer range of 85 km.

On 30 April, the company used a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher to fire the missile at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. During the flight test, the prototype was in the air for 91 seconds before hitting the target out at 85 km, US Army leaders told reporters following the test.

In December 2019, Lockheed Martin conducted its first PrSM flight test for the US Army (shown here). On 30 April, it launched its third missile flight test at White Sands Missile Range. (US Army)

“A third successful flight test for the PrSM. All the data is still being collected and analysed but by all indications are of a very nominal flight trajectory, it did strike the target,” Army Futures Command (AFC) head General Mike Murray said. “All the indications are that … the missile performed perfectly [with a] perfect launch.”

This latest event is being billed as Lockheed Martin’s third “successful” prototype flight test in a row. In late 2019, the missile flew approximately 240 km and out to 180 km earlier this year.

“This was the shortest … and the most challenging,” Brigadier General John Rafferty, the director of the service’s Long-Range Precision Fires Cross Functional Team (CFT), said. “The missile almost has to start tipping over as soon as it comes out of the launcher and has to burn off a lot of energy in order to turn over and get the vertical nominal trajectory.”

Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control has test-fired its US Army Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) p...

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