The US-Israeli war against Iran marks its first week tomorrow, as Washington confirmed it had used its new Precision Strike Missiles in combat for the first time — a significant milestone in the conflict that began with a wave of air strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities in the early hours of last Saturday.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the Middle East, announced the first-ever combat deployment of the Precision Strike Missiles (PrSMs), posting on X that the weapons offer “unrivaled deep strike capability.”
CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper said: “I could not be prouder of our men and women, who are leveraging innovation to create dilemmas for the enemy.”
CENTCOM confirmed the missiles were used as part of Operation Epic Fury — the joint US-Israel operation against Iran that launched on 28 February. The launch location and specific targets have not been disclosed.
What are PrSMs?
PrSMs are long-range, precision strike missile systems manufactured by Lockheed Martin, which delivered the first batch to the US Army in December 2023. They have a range of 60 to 499 kilometres (37 to 310 miles) and are compatible with the MLRS M270 and HIMARS launch systems, both also developed by Lockheed Martin and used by US and British forces.
How do they differ from their predecessors?
PrSMs are designed to replace the ATACMs, which have a range of approximately 300 kilometres (186 miles) when fired from HIMARS. The new missiles extend that reach to 499 kilometres without requiring any change to the launch vehicle. A HIMARS can also carry two PrSMs compared to a single ATACM, effectively doubling the missile payload.
Why does their use matter?
The capabilities of the PrSMs exceed the limits set by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which capped ground-launched systems at a maximum range of 500 kilometres.
The US withdrew from the treaty in 2019, clearing the way for the development of such systems and significantly expanding its long-range strike capacity.
The Gulf states hosting US military bases — including the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia — lie within 400 kilometres of Iran, making PrSMs a particularly valuable asset for operations in the region.
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