The U.S. Army is implementing plans to accelerate the production of its new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) as it phases out the aging Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), according to Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, program executive officer for missiles and space. The Army expects to finalize a production contract with Lockheed Martin for 400 missiles by the end of October 2023.

The Army began to replace the legacy ATACMS with the first deliveries of PrSMs in December 2023. This missile system is designed to launch from both the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System, providing deep-strike capabilities against threats from Russian and Chinese technologies. U.S. commanders in Europe and the Indo-Pacific are eager for a missile that can strike standoff targets at distances greater than 400 kilometers (approximately 249 miles).

Lockheed Martin has already delivered the first 26 PrSM missiles in 2024, with an additional 54 due to arrive this year, bringing the total to 100 missiles. Production is expected to ramp up significantly, targeting an increase to 400 missiles per quarter by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2027 and into 2028, as stated by Lozano.

To facilitate this increased production, the Army is preparing to phase out ATACMS production, which shares the same facility as PrSM manufacturing. Lozano emphasized the need to end ATACMS sales in order to create enough capacity for PrSM production. The Army is also finalizing plans for an exportable version of PrSM Increment 1, intending to replace ATACMS in the international market.

Currently, Lockheed’s production line for ATACMS is focused on building missiles for Taiwan. Lozano projected that within the next 24 months, once ATACMS production ceases, full control of the production facility can be shifted to PrSM, allowing for further capacity expansion.

The Army plans for future enhancements to the PrSM, including improvements in its seeker technology to better target maritime threats and increased lethality and range. A priority is to develop a maritime strike capability. Additionally, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies (RTX), and a Northrop Grumman team are competing to develop a follow-on increment known as the Long-Range Maneuverable Fires program, which aims to significantly extend the missile’s range beyond the planned 499 kilometers (310 miles).

Jen Judson, the author of this information, is recognized for her expertise in land warfare journalism and has a background in both Politico and Inside Defense. She holds a Master of Science in journalism from Boston University.