Targets behind the enemy lines: Army to launch New Long-Range Tactical Missile

The U.S. Army has awarded Raytheon a contract to continue developing a new long-range tactical missile Deepstrike system. DeepStrike, the missile will replace the Army Tactical Missile System or ATACMS. The missile will be able to strike targets up to 309 miles away with precision, including moving targets both on land at sea.

The DeepStrike missile was originally developed for the U.S. Army’s Long Range Precision Fires program. That program, in turn, arose from the need to develop a replacement for ATACMS. ATACMS missiles were developed during the Cold War as a means of giving the U.S. Army the ability to strike enemy headquarters, fuel and supply depots, helicopter bases, and other high-value targets at ranges of up to 190 miles.

Raytheon’s DeepStrike missile packs four missiles into each M270 and two missiles into HIMARS, doubling the number of missiles available for action. DeepStrike is also designed to range out up to 499 kilometres (309) miles away.