Military

Lockheed's new long-range missile nails target on second test flight

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The second test flight of Lockheed Martin's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) was a success
Lockheed Martin
The second test flight of Lockheed Martin's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) was a success
Lockheed Martin
The PrSM launching
Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) hit its target with "pinpoint accuracy" during its second test at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The next-generation long-range missile being developed for the US Army was fired from Lockheed Martin's High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher and flew 180 km (122 mi) before what the company calls a "highly accurate and lethal warhead event."

The successful second test launch comes two months after the system's first test on December 10, 2019, when it flew 240 km (149 mi). According to Lockheed, the second test went off without a hitch and fulfilled all of its objectives. These included confirming not only the system's accuracy and strike power but also its flight trajectory, range, overall performance, and how well it integrates with the HIMARS launcher.

The PrSM launching
Lockheed Martin

The PrSM uses a modular, open architecture design and is compatible with the MLRS M270 and HIMARS family of launchers and their descendants. With its insensitive munition (IM) propulsion system providing a range of over 499 km (310 mi), its purpose is to provide Army field commanders at the brigade, division, corps, Army, theater, Joint and Coalition levels with a long-range precision strike capability.

"Today's flight test further demonstrated the reliability, precision and critical capabilities Lockheed Martin is building into the PrSM," says Gaylia Campbell, vice president of Precision Fires and Combat Maneuver Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "The missile performed exactly as expected and successfully engaged the target with pinpoint accuracy."

Source: Lockheed Martin

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6 comments
vince
Yeah probably at a cost of $1 billion each will be able to afford one or two of them.
Username
Maybe they need to demonstrate a success rate greater than 50%
Kpar
Username, you mean like the WWII Mark 14 torpedo?
Nelson Hyde Chick
It is so reassuring we can kill with such precision.
Karmudjun
David - Why didn't you mention that the first test was a success as well? Or provide a link to the first test results? Whoever posted under "username" didn't put two and two together before posting - the first test was a success in the process of the missile and missile launcher platform functioning as intended, and this second test demonstrated a pin-point accuracy of some specification. I know a powerful warhead doesn't need to hit exactly on target to achieve the goal of destruction, but what does lockheed deem an accurate hit? Within 3 meters? 30 meters? Would be nice to know those things.
Robt
Yes, one shot kill is more efficient and reduces unwanted collateral damage