The US Army’s HIMARS Missile Program Just Hit A Major Milestone
Tactical missiles are trusted by military forces around the world and the U.S. Army. Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) It passed a series of important tests in late September 2025. Four of the Lockheed Martin-made surface-to-surface missiles were launched at targets 200 km (124 miles) away at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and a US Army outpost. website It states that the missiles “met all objectives in terms of range, trajectory, accuracy and explosion height.”
PrSM is planned to replace the Army MGM-140 Tactical Missile System (ATACMS)); both can be launched from truck-based HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) or tracked M270 missile launchers. Test versions of the PrSM were launched from a HIMARS in December 2024 and from an M270A2 in April 2025. PrSM missiles are housed in launch pods carrying two missiles each; a HIMARS launcher carries one pod, and the M270 can accommodate two pods. Older ATACMS launchers could only hold one missile per pod, but HIMARS’ ability to carry twice as much firepower with PrSM is just one benefit of the upgrade.
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Increased missile range keeps soldiers safe
PrSM missile launches into clear skies – Lockheed Martin
PrSM promises effective and accurate results at much longer distances than its predecessor, which makes the final tests important. Early ATACMS systems were good for up to 100 km (62 mi), but current systems have a range of about 300 km (186.4 mi). PrSM missiles could one day accurately hit targets as far away as 400 km (about 248.5 miles); They are the last of a series of long-range missiles that began with the Cold War-era Lance system. HIMARS launchers can hold six highly accurate Guided Multiple Launch Rockets or one long-range tactical missile, and PrSM allows HIMARS crews to engage enemies from more distant positions than they can with the current ATACMS system.
This is an immediate way to reduce the risk of loss of personnel and equipment, and greater range means better accuracy over shorter distances. Lockheed Martin contacted Northrop Grumman It planned to produce rocket engines for PrSM missiles, and the new propulsion system was tested in early 2022. “Our new engine delivers improved performance, meaning increased weapons payload and dwell time for our warplanes,” claimed Rebecca Torzone, Northrop Grumman vice president of missile products at the time. Another important feature of PrSM will help achieve the same two goals.
PrSM can be a drone slinger
Raytheon Coyote drone on the display table in the launcher – Raytheon
Drones are becoming increasingly important to military forces around the world, prompting a range of anti-drone tactics. Ukraine’s civil air patrol uses World War II-era rotorcraft to destroy Russian dronesAnd Germany relies on Skyranger’s surface-to-air turret. The US military has relied heavily on drones in recent conflicts, and PrSM will help increase offensive and defensive drone capabilities. PrSM is currently capable of launching anti-drone weapons and can be adapted to launch attack drones like the Raytheon Coyote pictured above. These ships can be loaded with Northrop Grumman’s Hatchet bombs, which weigh about 6 pounds and have GPS targeting capabilities.
These highly maneuverable weapons also feature adaptive fusing to optimize detonation timing, allowing forces to increase the firepower of larger drones when attacking with smaller drones. Launching drones with the new PrSM HIMARS missile launchers is a two-layered strategy that increases their ability to reach distant targets while keeping soldiers and pilots out of harm’s way. Northrop Grumman also says it will continue to improve the Hatchet’s targeting system, which is already accurate down to below 2 meters (about 6 feet 7 inches). If these weapons could be delivered reliably to targets several hundred miles away, the U.S. military could have a distinct advantage on the modern battlefield.
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