Lockheed Martin sailed through its second flight test of its version of the Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM, intended to replace the Army Tactical Missile System, at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on March 10.
The missile’s range in the test was 180 kilometers, which was shorter than the first flight test but more challenging, as the missile must go up and come down quicker, Gaylia Campbell, Lockheed’s Vice President of Precision Fires and Combat Maneuver Systems, told a news source shortly after Tuesday’s test.
The missile’s launch, trajectory, guidance and impact performed exactly as expected, she added.
Lockheed and Raytheon are locked in a head-to-head competition to replace the ATACMS. Lockheed now has two flight tests under its belt, but Raytheon is lagging. The latter company was supposed to test its version of PrSM late last year, but technical difficulties delayed the test and it still has yet to be rescheduled.
“Raytheon has resolved the technical issue that delayed our planned DeepStrike flight test last November. The company is working with our US Army customer to plan next steps in the competition for the PrSM program,” the company said in a statement sent to Defense News on March 9. DeepStrike is the company’s name for its PrSM offering.
