Lockheed Martin and the US Army have launched the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) from an MLRS M270A2 launcher for the first time in a short-range production qualification test.
"This test shows that PrSM works seamlessly with the Army's tracked M270A2 launcher, which fires the same munitions as HIMARS," Vice President of Precision Fires Launchers and Missiles at Lockheed Martin, Carolyn Orzechowski, said.
According to Lockheed Martin, the flight test, conducted at White Sands Missiles Range in New Mexico, validated PrSM’s performance and integration with the M270A2 launcher. The Increment 1 missile fired at multiple targets, including a radar and rotary wing platform, engaging them with precise and lethal impact.
“While PrSM's primary mission is long range fires, Lockheed Martin validates accuracy and reliability of the missile even at the shortest distances before we provide it to warfighters,” Orzechowski explained.
The short-range flight also demonstrated the missile’s ability to manoeuvre at hypersonic speeds and maintain accuracy, even under the most stressful conditions.
Australia has selected PrSM and is a cooperative development partner on Increment II. The second phase will include a multimode sensor that will allow the missile to strike moving maritime targets. The Army signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the USE Army in 2021 and contributed $70 million to the PrSM development cost.
Through Project Land 8113 Phase 1, Australia will purchase PrSMs. The missiles is being created and delivered in four increments. Australia will also be contributing to the development of PrSM Increments 3 and 4, as announced in January 2024. The third phase shall introduce new warhead options and the fourth will be a longer-range variant.