L3Harris Technologies has conducted a key propulsion test for the US Army’s ramjet-powered Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 4 program, paving the way for flight testing to begin in the fall.
During the Direct Connect Transition Test, the developmental missile successfully transitioned from a solid-rocket booster to an air-breathing ramjet engine, which is intended to significantly enhance its range for future threat environments.
Unlike previous rocket-powered variants, Increment 4 features a combination of rocket-booster and ramjet propulsion. After the initial boost phase, the missile uses atmospheric oxygen to sustain combustion in its ramjet engine, eliminating the need to carry an onboard oxidizer during cruise flight.
Thanks to this propulsion architecture, the missile is expected to strike targets at ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), nearly double the range of earlier PrSM variants.
“Rapidly advancing our next-generation propulsion system through ground test and into flight test demonstrates our unique ability to deliver on the Army’s mission requirements and near-term fielding plans,” L3Harris President of Missile Propulsion and Missile Solutions Scott Alexander said.
“Our propulsion system strikes a balance between capability and affordability by meeting the Army’s requirements for speed, range, and lethality.”
Accelerated Development for Indo-Pacific
Launched from existing HIMARS and M270 launchers, the missile is designed to operate in GPS-denied environments and features high control authority and high terminal velocity, complicating interception in anti-access/area-denial scenarios.
Increment 4’s development is being accelerated for operations in the Indo-Pacific, where it could hold long-range land and maritime targets at risk.
To support the program’s timeline, prime contractor Lockheed Martin and L3Harris have invested more than $300 million in additive manufacturing and automation, establishing a rapid-production hardware pipeline.
“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,” Lockheed Martin Vice President of Advanced Programs Randy Crites said.
