Advanced missile launch signals technological edge as US and Israel dismantle Iran’s military infrastructure.
The United States Central Command has released operational footage showing the launch of a missile from the HIMARS rocket system during Operation Epic Fury, the joint military campaign conducted alongside Israel against Iranian military assets. The operation is referred to in Israel as Operation Roaring Lion.
The footage, reported by Israel Defense, appears to show the launch of the next-generation Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), a long-range surface-to-surface weapon developed by the US Army as part of its modernization program. If confirmed, the strike would represent the first operational use of the missile in combat conditions.
Analysts reviewing the released video noted that the missile displayed characteristics different from the older ATACMS weapon typically fired from the HIMARS launcher. The projectile visible in the footage appears longer and slimmer than ATACMS, a design that matches the known specifications of the new PrSM system.
One of the major improvements of the new missile platform is its launcher efficiency. While the older ATACMS system allows only one missile per launch pod, the updated configuration enables two PrSM missiles to be carried and fired from a single pod. This significantly increases the strike capacity of mobile rocket artillery systems deployed on the battlefield.
Although the US Army has not officially confirmed the missile model used in the strike, the release of the video as part of operations targeting Iranian assets has led military analysts to believe that the advanced missile was likely deployed operationally for the first time during the campaign.
The Precision Strike Missile was developed under the US Army’s long-range precision fires modernization initiative. The program aims to strengthen ground-based strike capabilities and replace the aging ATACMS missile that has been in service since the early 1990s.
One of the most significant advantages of the new system is its extended range. The PrSM is capable of engaging targets at distances of approximately 500 kilometers, compared with roughly 300 kilometers for the older ATACMS missile. This extended reach allows ground forces to strike strategic targets from significantly greater standoff distances.
Military planners consider this capability particularly valuable for targeting critical infrastructure such as command centers, logistical hubs and missile launch facilities while keeping launch systems outside the reach of enemy counterattacks.
The missile also incorporates a smaller but highly precise warhead weighing around 91 kilograms. Rather than relying on large explosive payloads, the system emphasizes improved accuracy and advanced guidance systems to achieve its intended operational effects while minimizing collateral damage.
Production of the new missile began in July of last year as part of a major procurement initiative by the United States Army. The initial contract included the delivery of 282 missiles between 2023 and 2025. As the military transitions toward the new system, a larger follow-up order has already been approved.
Under the expanded procurement plan, an additional 1,296 missiles will be produced through 2029, significantly expanding the long-range strike capabilities of American ground forces.
The reported operational use of the missile during the campaign against Iranian military infrastructure highlights the rapid integration of advanced weapons into modern conflict scenarios. Analysts note that combining precision strike technology with real-time intelligence allows the United States and its allies to neutralize strategic targets with increasing speed and effectiveness.
