Plans for the development of the PrSM missile system (USA)

Test launch of the PrSM Increment 1 rocket, 2019

Since the middle of the last decade, the US Army and military industry have been working on a promising PrSM missile system based on the ballistic missile of the same name. With its help, in the foreseeable future, it is planned to replace the existing ATACMS systems, which are morally and physically obsolete. According to the work schedule, the first PrSM products should be delivered to the troops this year. In addition, new modifications of the rocket with certain differences are being developed.

The first stage

Since the middle of the last decade, the Pentagon has been working on a land-based missile and artillery modernization program called Long-Range Precision Fires (LRPF). The program provides for the creation of a number of new receiver and missile systems covering a wide range of firing and launch ranges.

The niche of the operational-tactical missile system in the US Army is now occupied by ATACMS systems. According to the LRPF plan, in the foreseeable future, they should give way to new complexes with improved performance. The development of such an OTRK was launched at the initiative of the Pentagon in early 2016. The project was called the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).

Initially, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Boeing joined the project. The latter soon withdrew from the competition due to the availability of more important developments. The two remaining participants continued to fight until the beginning of 2020, when Raytheon, due to a series of setbacks, curtailed work. Lockheed Martin automatically became the winner of the competition, and a contract was signed for all remaining events.

Tests of the PrSM missile from Lockheed Martin began in December 2019. Since then, a number of launches have been completed, and the prototype products have confirmed the calculated characteristics. According to known data, by now the project has passed all the necessary stages and received the required permits. Now the development company is completing the preparation of the production line for the production of serial products.

According to current plans, the first PrSM missiles will enter the combat units of the US Army this year. By the end of the year, the first unit equipped with such an OTRK will reach the state of initial operational readiness. After that, it will be brought to full readiness, and in parallel, the rearmament of other units will start.

In the face of restrictions

The goal of the PrSM program is to create a promising OTRK with a new missile with increased range and accuracy. The project provides for the creation of the rocket itself, as well as some instruments and software for control systems. The new products will be used with the existing M270 and M142 launchers after minor upgrades.

The customer and the developer initially considered the possibility of developing and subsequent modernization of the rocket with the receipt of certain new functions. Product modifications are referred to as PrSM Increment 1, 2, etc. Now the focus is on the Inc 1 project.

The PrSM project from Lockheed Martin offers a traditional rocket design. It is carried out in a cylindrical body with a conical fairing and tail rudders. Due to the limitations of launchers, the length of the rocket does not exceed 4 m, the diameter is approx. 450 mm. The M142 launcher will be able to carry one container with such a missile, the larger M270 two.

Inside the rocket body, controls, a warhead and a solid rocket engine are sequentially placed. According to known data, PrSM of the first version Inc 1 can only attack stationary targets with known coordinates. Guidance is provided by a combined system with inertial and satellite navigation. A high-explosive fragmentation warhead is used to hit the target.

Design appearance of PrSM missiles of the first versions

The terms of reference for the first version of the PrSM missile were drawn up in the middle of the last decade, when the Russian-American Treaty on Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles was in force. In this regard, the range of the new OTRK was limited to 500 km. However, the United States already had plans to break up this treaty, and the possibility of further increasing the range was being studied. As a result, the range of the PrSM missile is now defined as "at least 500 km."

Further development

Even before the start of testing of the PrSM Inc 1 rocket, the development of the next modification Inc 2 began. According to known data, this project has two main goals. First of all, it is planned to increase the firing range. Due to the use of a more advanced engine, this parameter will reach the level of 700-750 km.

In addition, a Land-Based Anti-Ship Missile (LBASM) homing head is being developed for PrSM Inc 2. It includes radar and infrared components, thanks to which the missile will be able to find and hit targets with unknown coordinates. It also provides a launch on moving objects, such as ships, which is noted in the name of the seeker.

Testing of the LBASM head began back in 2020. However, work on this project is not being forced so that they do not interfere with the solution of current problems. Tests of a finished missile with such a seeker will begin later. The appearance of PrSM Inc 2 products in service is expected only in 2027, when the army will master weapon first version.

Also at the end of the decade - the exact dates have not yet been determined - the PrSM Inc 3 missile under development will go to the troops. As part of this project, several types of combat units with increased power parameters will be developed. In terms of controls and guidance Inc 3 will repeat previous projects. Firing range - like PrSM Inc 2.

Fundamental restructuring

Recently, work has begun on the next version of the complex, designated as PrSM Inc 4 or Long Range Maneuverable Fires (LRMF). As part of this project, the missile flight range is going to be increased to 1000 km or more. It is assumed that such a problem cannot be solved by simply updating the first versions of the rocket.

According to Breaking Defense, the Pentagon recently launched the development of PrSM Inc 4 and issued corresponding orders. For example, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $33 million contract to design a new rocket, which is a further development of existing products. It follows from the published data that the Pentagon is not confident in the possibility of successfully solving such problems, and therefore a parallel project is being launched.

As part of the $100 million contract, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman will have to build an alternative version of the LRMF rocket from scratch. To achieve the specified range characteristics in this project, an air-jet engine is used.

Regardless of the type of propulsion system and other innovations, PrSM Inc 4 / LRMF missiles must be compatible with existing launchers, be able to attack stationary and moving targets, etc. The required parameters of the warhead are not specified. Perhaps, developments on previous modifications of PrSM will be used.

Concept rocket PrSM Inc 4 with ramjet engine

The Pentagon, its contractors and specialized media cannot yet give an exact timeline for the development of a new modification of the PrSM missile, incl. in a completely new look. At the same time, it is not excluded that the Inc 4 complex may appear earlier than the upgraded Inc 3 rocket. Everything depends on the progress of work on other projects and on the relevant plans of the customer.

Pending rearmament

Thus, the American industry, represented by Lockheed Martin and its subcontractors, continues to develop the new PrSM missile system and regularly reports on new successes and the following goals. At the moment, the main task is to launch mass production and start deliveries of missiles to the troops. By the end of the year, the first rocket artillery unit, transferred to the new weapon, should reach initial operational readiness.

Without wasting time, the Pentagon and contractors are developing the following modifications of PrSM with some differences. Plans have already been drawn up for an improved missile with increased range and seeker. Testing of key components has begun, but the project is not yet a priority, and serial products will go to the troops only in a few years.

Ways for the further development of the missile system and the program as a whole have not yet been determined. It is proposed to develop new warheads, improving the power and flexibility of the missile, as well as once again increase its range - while maintaining the overall appearance or through radical processing. However, such complexes will appear only by the end of the decade or later.

With the help of a new family of ballistic missiles, the Pentagon plans to replace the old ATACMS line and improve the basic capabilities of the missile forces. The first step in this direction has already been taken, and soon a missile with a range of 500 km or more will enter service. Whether it will be possible to cope with further tasks and ensure the defeat of stationary or moving targets at ranges of the order of 1000 km - time will tell.

Comments

[Tim]

The first step in this direction has already been taken, and soon a missile with a range of 500 km or more will enter service. Whether it will be possible to cope with further tasks and ensure the defeat of stationary or moving targets at ranges of the order of 1000 km - time will tell. [quote] [/ quote]
I agree about the new PrSM missile system, a very serious thing, our Defense Ministry and military-industrial complex should not relax.

[KCA]

So no one relaxes, there are Onyxes, there are Iskanders, there are no official data on them, the Iskander has no range limit of 500 km for a long time, what range it now has is unknown, Onyx had no range restrictions , it was considered anti-ship missiles, they called it 600 km, then it was modernized, it was called both 800 and 1000 km, there was an article on the VO that the first sample of "Zircon" on wheels was released, of course, there are no details, well, the air component is "Dagger", except for the MIG-31 they are preparing placement on the TU-22M3M and TU-160M2, I read that under the TU-160M2 they can increase the length of the rocket, compartments and roundabouts allow, more fuel capacity, and, accordingly, more range, even RTOs, it seems to me, through a slight modernization they will be able to to be carriers of "Zircon", and RTOs are the Baltic, the White Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian, the Don, the Volga, the Neva, and even the Moscow River, with a range of 1000 km you will get a lot, but try to catch RTOs in the basins of these seas, rivers, reservoirs

[Arsen1]

In terms of range, we have no questions, but there are questions about the Precision of our missiles)

[KCA]

There are definitely no questions about the standing ones, they showed about Zvezda - they stuck a gopro on the target shield and waited for the arrival of Zircon, peace and quiet, nothing, then no gopro, no shield, nothing, flew in, no picture, no sound, less than a second of video like a dunce raised a wave and washed everything away, here there seems to be a shield, and suddenly it is not there right away, but what if 200kt or at least 400kg of warhead hexogen? So, at least, stationary objects are simply easy to demolish, about aircraft carriers, I doubt that someone will tell

[Negro]

Quote: KCA

they showed on the Star - they stuck a gopro on the target shield and waited for the arrival of Zircon, peace and quiet, nothing, then neither gopro, nor shield, nothing, flew in, no picture, no sound, less than a second of video

Video how to turn off the camera? Very interesting.

Quote: KCA

How are the RS 9M544 and 9M549 inferior to the Hymars?

They exist?

Quote: KCA

small-small GPS, we can jam tightly, the Americans do not have such an opportunity,

Such boxes are sold on aleishka bucks for 50, sort of. And they don't care, GLONASS, GPS or something else. Therefore, any high-precision has a duplicate guidance. Inertial, according to the electronic relief map, etc.

Quote: KCA

but also a large synchronization complex on the ground, they missed one point - that's it, the accuracy of GPS, even civilian, even military, is already lower than the lower

Very interesting.

Quote: KCA

Ukrainians do not fight with himars, but they hit civilians?

)))

[KCA]

Yes, but what questions about accuracy are there? Voice it, perhaps I don’t know anything about it, through the plasma cloud "Daggers" and "Zircons" are pointed to a point, and 100500 meters to the KVO station? You don’t confuse with the outskirts Tochka-U? She has just 100-150m KVO

[bayard]

Quote: KCA

You do not confuse with the outskirts of Tochka-U? She has just 100-150m KVO

Here they upset a person, and he is a minus to you ...
According to AUG, for fidelity, it is enough to equip the "Dagger" or "Zircon" with nuclear warheads and everything will work out.

[bk0010]

Quote: KCA

Iskander has long had no range limit of 500 km

This is US nonsense, there is such a restriction for both a ballistic missile and a cruise missile. The modern analogue of the Pioneers must be created anew.

[KCA]

There is, probably, an almost ready-made "Frontier", which seems to be closed, but who in the USSR and the Russian Federation closes promising projects? There were graters that the "Frontier" was not flying at 5500 km, but closer, there was a restriction on the INF Treaty, but there was no evidence, test launches were at 5500+ km, I don’t exclude that it is, and will be, it can be pumped in the USA engines that allegedly delivered the Apollos to the Moon, we always have a copy, not in the design bureau, but in the first department

[bayard]

Quote: KCA

There is, probably, an almost ready-made "Frontier", which seems to be closed, but who in the USSR and the Russian Federation closes promising projects? There were graters that "Frontier" does not fly at 5500 km

They said that at 6500 km. and promised to arrange demonstration launches. But ... we decided not to tease the partners.
Of course, it would be nice to return to them, but the "Frontier" missile is overall, not cheap, almost in the dimension of the "Topol". And they will have to be produced in Votkinsk, which means to the detriment of the production of Yars and other intercontinental ones. It's a necessary thing, but it will take time.
But this will not solve all the issues.
Here is the "Dagger" on the MiG-31K - a wonderful thing, but ... binding to airfields and from satellites is therefore controlled. But there was a project for a two-stage IRBM based on the Iskander engine as the first stage (booster), and as the second stage "Dagger". The range of such an IRBM was estimated at "about 2000 km." , which is quite enough for the European and Far Eastern (according to US bases in Japan) theater of operations. Such airfields are not needed, it is quite possible to hide or disguise them, a salvo will be fired in a few minutes (maximum, if not ready) after the command arrives.
The DRMSD ordered to "live long", to explain the deployment of such missiles in the European part of the easy - English and French missiles not included in START. It's even easier to explain in the Far East ... but not necessarily.
Such an IRBM promises to be inexpensive, easy to operate and easy to use ... It would look very good in Cuba as opposed to American nuclear bombs in Europe.
The cost of such a missile system will be 5-7 times cheaper than the "Frontier" and will occupy its rightful niche. For "Frontier" to shoot at a distance of less than 2000 km ... is inconvenient and irrational.
And it will turn out synergy. In other words - harmony.

[KCA]

Do you directly track the launches of RMD and RSD in Russia? Until some time they were forbidden developments, but you knew everything, tell me, please, or go there, smart guy, who knows a lot, I know a little about it, but I won’t tell, I’m not an off representative of the Moscow Region, and what I know is just I don’t know, yes, and how did they tell you in cisso if the PRC provides the Russian Federation, if not missiles, then the technology of ballistic anti-aircraft missiles, with a range of 2000 km and a speed of 8MAX? If we assume that the Russian Federation does not have them, and China has surpassed the developments of the USSR in the 195s?

[bayard]

What kind of stream of consciousness?
The PRC has its own missiles, we have ours. And the Russian Federation's IRBMs were developed and tested, although they had a slightly threshold range and could be considered intercontinental. "Frontier" is just such an IRBM.

Quote: KCA

Do you directly track the launches of RMD and RSD in Russia?

Exclusively from open sources.
But according to the old army habit.

Quote: KCA

I know a little about it, but I won't tell

"We have such devices
. But we won't tell you about them."

Quote: KCA

and as you were told in cisso

Wow how everything is running. But you come to us in Donetsk , we will tell you about missiles and improve your health .

[cold wind]

The most unpleasant thing is that they have ~ 600 ready-made launchers for these missiles only in the United States. Let me remind you that the appearance of ~20 Himars actually stopped our offensive in May-June 2022.
Multifunctional missile systems are replacing tactical aircraft in the US Army, which only has attack helicopters. New missiles allow this to be done fully.

[KCA]

How are the RS 9M544 and 9M549 inferior to the Hymars? They only win, little by little we can jam the GPS tightly, the Americans do not have such an opportunity, we can easily slaughter the GPS correction, not along the entire front, but over the main targets, neither pig-nosed nor the United States can slaughter GLONASS, their grenades are not like that caliber, satellite navigation is not only crap in orbit, but also a large synchronization complex on the ground, they screwed up one point - that's it, GPS accuracy, even civilian, even military is already lower than the lower one, why don't Ukrainians fight with himars, but hit civilians? But because the accuracy is equal to the value - like a bull pissed

[Timur_kz]

It's not about the number of launchers, but missiles for them.

[KCA]

Do you have data on the number of manufactured controlled RS for Tornado-S? You have already left, will you have time to answer? Where, at what point did the Himars cause damage to the Armed Forces of the Moscow Region? Where? In cities and settlements and Grad of the 1963 model, you can hollow it out, you can send a terrorist to the subway with IEDs, but how will this affect the actions of the troops? In addition to the anger of the population and the influx of volunteers, what will terrorism cause? Fear? Not in Russia, only hate

[blackGRAIL]

ATACMS systems that are morally and physically obsolete

After these words, Ryabov's authorship of the article was instantly recognized. The latest version of the rocket from 2017. The Polish, Australian, Taiwanese and Lithuanian contracts are in line for execution. This missile system on the territory of Poland and the Baltic states is a real threat to us.

[Zaurbek]

For the Russian Federation, the main issue is not in range and accuracy, but in the control center for missiles and their number. We need RC aircraft and satellites and UAVs and analysis systems (target identification) for transmitting data immediately to the OTRK. The firing range for BR is a production issue, the issue of accuracy has long been resolved. And the RC and data transmission are also relevant for tactical aviation. And this is the main question.