Lockheed Martin can increase the range of M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS to 1000 km

We continue to talk about the information shared by Lockheed Martin at the AUSA arms exhibition

2022. The manufacturer stated that the range of the M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS could increase to 1000 km.

What is known

This can be achieved thanks to Precision StrikeMissile (PrSM). The company wants to carry out four missile upgrades. Paula Hartley, vice president of Lockheed Martin, said the test schedule for the missile is scheduled for 2023.

In addition, next year the company intends tomove on to the production of the first missiles for testing. To this end, it has been allocated more than $70 million for the production of 54 PrSM test missiles for the M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS multiple launch rocket systems.

In 2023, Lockheed Martin will hold threetesting PrSM Increment 1 weighing more than 500 kg. At the second stage (Increment 2), it is planned to add a multi-mode searcher. Then, at the Increment 3 stage, the US company will integrate smart munitions and will work on adding multi-target capability.

But the most interesting stage can be Increment4. This step will increase the PrSM launch range to 1000 km. Now officially Lockheed Martin claims a range of 650 km. But the future of PrSM Increment 4 is still vague. The American company is waiting for the decision of the army. It should be accepted before the end of this month.

Note that PrSM Increment 4 will allow more thantriple the maximum range of the M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS. Now multiple launch rocket systems can hit targets at a distance of 300 km thanks to ATACMS ballistic missiles.

Image: Defense24