The United States plans to put Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) systems into active service in early 2024, following successful testing at a facility in New Mexico. This development has drawn interest from regional news outlets monitoring US defense programs.
Lockheed Martin notes that while engaging close-range targets is not the primary objective for PrSM, achieving precision at short distances remains a challenging task due to the high speeds involved in the weapon’s flight profile.
A defense news outlet reports that the missile is capable of striking targets at a range of about 85 kilometers, highlighting its rapid response capabilities within a relatively narrow engagement envelope.
Despite the missile’s speed, it is clarified that PrSM is not categorized as a hypersonic weapon. The initial delivery of missiles to U.S. forces was anticipated toward the end of 2023, with an initial procurement plan initially set to provide a large batch of munitions. Plans to expand the order are under consideration in response to broader defense materiel commitments, including support to allied operations.
There are discussions about an later iteration under development, referred to in tactical circles as a land-based anti-ship variant, designed to expand the missile’s versatility in seabed and coastal defense scenarios.
Preliminary development objectives for a subsequent version aim to increase payload capacity and roughly double the flight range, broadening the system’s strategic reach while preserving accuracy and reliability under varied conditions.
Officials emphasize that the PrSM family is intended to simplify multi-domain operations. By enabling ground-based launchers to coordinate with air and cyber components, these missiles could help defend friendly aircraft from ground-based threats by suppressing or defeating opposing air defenses as part of a coordinated strike package.
In recent weeks, announcements indicated ongoing operational-tactical evaluations of PrSM in concert with ground forces. These efforts are part of a broader push to validate practical use cases for the missile within a modernized force posture and integrated battle environment.
Earlier public commentary questioned certain strategic boundaries in the context of broader regional security discussions, including the implications for cross-border stability and allied defense commitments.