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The United States Army has successfully launched a Precision Strike Missile Increment 1 missile from High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during testing in New Mexico.
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The missile reportedly demonstrated capability for successful target engagements during the Production Qualification Test 1 flight conducted at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on 13 November.
The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 1 missile, compatible with HIMARS and M270 vehicles, reportedly performed nominally in terms of predicted flight trajectory, lethality, near-vertical engagement angle, and height of burst after being fired from the HIMARS launcher at a target set. A final flight test report is anticipated in December this year.
The successful flight test satisfies the criteria for acceptance of Precision Strike Missile Increment 1 Early Operational Capability missiles in quarter one, financial year 2024. The PrSM Inc 1 missiles are designed to replace the Army’s inventory of Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles and provide significantly extended range of 499 kilometres-plus and insensitive munition lethality for Army long-ranges precision fires.
“This demonstration is the first of several production qualification tests moving PrSM closer to fielding and delivery of early operational capability missiles this year,” according to Jay Price, Lockheed Martin missiles and fire control precision fires vice-president.
“PrSM is a critical capability and the top long-range precision fires modernisation priority for the US Army.”
The test is the shortest distance flown to date, demonstrating the system’s continued accuracy from launch to impact; while not PrSM’s primary mission range, the short-range flight represents the most stressful, dynamic environment for the missile as it manoeuvres at hypersonic speeds to align to the target. The test seeks to verify structural integrity of the missile and trajectory control.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Australian Defence Force gunners will begin training in the United States next year in preparations for its new HIMARS regiment.
Australia will base its first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher unit, 14 Regiment, out of Puckapunyal in central Victoria and gunners will undertake training at the US Artillery School in Oklahoma as early as next year.
The initial battery will field the first of 20 recently purchased HIMARS to be delivered in 2025.
Initially, one troop of four HIMARS is expected to operate, with the rest used for training, maintenance, and certification. This will expand to a battery of three troops in 2027.
The test follows a third production contract to produce additional EOC missiles awarded in September 2023.
