According to a company press release, the Direct Connect Transition Test demonstrated seamless transfer of control from a solid-fuel rocket motor to a ramjet propulsion system. The testing was conducted on a ground test stand operated by L3Harris.
Flight testing of the PrSM Increment 4 aeroballistic missile is scheduled to begin on time this fall. Thanks to its dual-mode propulsion system, the missile is designed to be compatible with existing M142 HIMARS and M270 launchers without any modifications.
Read more: Will Australia's Surplus GMLRS Production for HIMARS Benefit Ukraine, What About Future PrSM Missiles
Lockheed Martin also states that the new propulsion concept will enable the missile to strike targets at ranges exceeding 1,000 km, although earlier requirements issued by the US Department of Defense called for a minimum range of around 800 km.
From a Defense Express perspective, the appearance of such a capability in Ukrainian service would fundamentally expand the strike envelope of HIMARS and M270 systems. In theory, it would enable ballistic-class precision strikes against high-value targets deep in the rear, potentially including areas such as Saint Petersburg and beyond.
At the same time, the introduction of PrSM Increment 4 into operational service should not be expected in the near or even mid-term perspective. The United States is likely to prioritize replenishing its own stockpiles, especially given that this is a next-generation munition still under active development.
It should be recalled that the PrSM Increment 4 missile was first revealed in October last year. In total, there are currently five known variants of the PrSM family.
Besides Increment 4, the family includes the baseline PrSM Increment 1 with a range of up to 500 km, the anti-ship PrSM Increment 2, Increment 3 focused on warhead experimentation, and Increment 5 intended for unmanned launch platforms.
During Operation Epitaph Fury against Iran, the United States reportedly used PrSM missiles in combat for the first time, expending the available stock during the operation, a fact that underscores both the system’s maturity and its current limited availability.
Read more: Spending Entire Stock of Ballistic Missiles on Strikes Against iran May Sound Alarming, but for New PrSM it is Actually Better Than it Seems at First Glance
