Lockheed Martin advances PrSM Increment 4 toward flight testing

ORANGE, Va., June 3, 2026 — Lockheed Martin, L3Harris and the U.S. Army have completed a key propulsion milestone for Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 4, advancing the program toward flight trials this fall. In a Direct Connect Transition Test at L3Harris’ high-speed air‑breathing propulsion facility, the development missile executed a flawless booster‑to‑ramjet handoff, validating the propulsion transition event.

The demonstration removes the primary technical barrier to flight testing and keeps the effort on track for operational fielding. The propulsion architecture is designed to achieve ranges beyond 1,000 kilometers while remaining compatible with existing HIMARS and M270 launchers, extending long‑range precision‑strike capability without requiring new launch platforms or logistics changes.

Following extensive ground testing in both booster and ramjet modes, the upcoming flight test is planned to show near‑tactical range performance and a mature propulsion technology for future long‑range strike missions. The ramjet‑powered engine is intended to double the range of the baseline PrSM while maintaining compatibility with current launchers. The Increment 4 configuration combines high‑control authority with high‑terminal velocity to complicate interception and enable lethal engagement of both relocatable land targets and moving maritime targets.

Lockheed Martin and L3Harris report a combined investment of more than $300 million in additive manufacturing and automation to establish a rapid‑production hardware pipeline that supports an accelerated fielding schedule. The missile uses the same transport container as earlier PrSM increments and can be moved by C‑130 aircraft using existing logistics infrastructure, enabling an upgrade in firepower without new launch platforms or supply‑chain changes.

“The Direct Connect Transition Test shows the missile’s core propulsion is not a future concept but a validated capability that can be loaded onto current HIMARS and M270 launchers quickly, dramatically shortening the time to warfighter delivery,” said Randy Crites, vice president, Lockheed Martin Advanced Programs.

“Advancing our next-generation propulsion system quickly through ground testing so we are ready now for flight testing confirms our ability to deliver on the Army’s mission requirements,” said Scott Alexander, president, Missile Propulsion, Missile Solutions, L3Harris. “L3Harris’ propulsion system strikes a balance between capability and affordability by meeting the Army’s requirements for speed, range and lethality.”