What Is PrSM? What Does It Do? Lockheed Martin’s 500+ km Precision Strike Missile Replacing ATACMS
The U.S. Army’s next-generation precision strike missile replacing ATACMS, Lockheed Martin PrSM (Precision Strike Missile), is designed to fit 2 per HIMARS pod. With 500+ km range, 5 m precision, and hypersonic approach speed, it became operational in 2024 in the modern long-range strike category. Türkiye’s ROKETSAN TAYFUN ballistic missile is its direct equivalent.
What Is It?
PrSM is the next-generation ballistic missile developed by Lockheed Martin as the U.S. Army’s ATACMS successor. 2 fit in HIMARS and M270 MLRS pods (vs ATACMS only 1). Roadmap announced: Increment 1 (2024 operational, 500+ km), Increment 2 (anti-ship variant, 2025), Increment 3 (1,000+ km target, 2027), Increment 4 (hypersonic, 2030s).
What Does It Do?
PrSM is designed to strike Chinese and Russian long-range targets (command centers, air bases, anti-ship batteries, S-400) in the Indo-Pacific theater from mobile platforms like HIMARS. GPS+INS guidance provides 5 m precision. The Increment 2 anti-ship variant with semi-active radar seeker will be effective against naval targets; it can destroy Chinese Type 055 cruisers from 500+ km.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Next-gen precision strike ballistic missile |
| Length | ~4 m |
| Diameter | 430 mm |
| Weight | ~700 kg |
| Motor | Two-stage solid fuel |
| Range | Inc.1: 500+ km; Inc.3: 1,000+ km (goal) |
| Speed | Hypersonic approach |
| Guidance | Inertial + GPS + active RF seeker in Inc.2 |
| Warhead | Unitary HE-fragmentation or semi-armor-piercing |
| Platforms | HIMARS M142, M270A2 MLRS |
Who Bought It, At What Price?
PrSM unit cost is 1—1.5 million USD. Lockheed Martin signed a 2024 contract for 360 units. Australia, UK, Poland, Romania export talks ongoing. The U.S. Army targets 3,500+ PrSMs by 2030.
| Operator | Units | Configuration | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Army | 3,500+ planned | Inc.1 + Inc.2 | 2024 |
| Australia | 100+ planned | Inc.1 | 2025 |
| United Kingdom (talks) | – | Inc.1 | 2026 |
| Poland (talks) | – | Inc.1 | 2026 |
Comparison With Turkish Counterpart
Türkiye’s PrSM equivalent is ROKETSAN TAYFUN ballistic missile — 565 km range (exceeds Inc.1), GPS+INS guided, tactical ballistic missile launched from KAPLAN MLRS. Serial production began in 2022, with 100+ stockpiled by 2025. TAYFUN-2 (1,000+ km) and TAYFUN-N (nuclear-capable precision, planned) variants announced.
| Criterion | PrSM Inc.1 (LM) | TAYFUN (ROKETSAN) | TAYFUN-2 (planned) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Ballistic missile | Ballistic missile | Ballistic missile |
| Range | 500+ km | 565 km | 1,000+ km (goal) |
| Pod | 2 / HIMARS | 1 / KAPLAN | 1 / new platform |
| Precision | 5 m | 10 m | 5 m (goal) |
| Guidance | GPS + INS | GPS + INS | GPS + INS + terminal |
| Anti-ship variant | Inc.2 (2025) | In development | Planned |
| Cost | ~1.2M USD | Domestic | Domestic |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is PrSM replacing ATACMS?
Is TAYFUN better than PrSM?
Can Türkiye buy PrSM?
Why is Inc.2 anti-ship important?
When will hypersonic PrSM come?
Conclusion
PrSM is the new backbone of U.S. long-range precision strike after ATACMS. Türkiye’s TAYFUN + TAYFUN-2 ecosystem competes in parallel in both range and production maturity. PrSM and TAYFUN will face direct export competition in the Europe-Asia market through 2026—2030; especially in Pakistan, Indonesia, and Egypt, the decision will be defining.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Precision Strike Missile
- Lockheed Martin PrSM program
- U.S. Army PEO Missiles & Space
- ROKETSAN TAYFUN product page
- Janes Strategic Weapons 2024
