The Greek army is reportedly carrying out a study to assess all tactical ballistic missile options for its rocket artillery. Consideration is being given to securing the US Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), which is in development.
Greek-US missile demonstrations
The study aims to analyze the benefits, costs, acquisition, and integration process for various missiles, including the US precision rocket.
The lessons being learned from Ukraine’s efforts in its resistance to Russia will also be analyzed for the assessment, as rocket artillery demonstrated its utility in taking out long-range targets.
A Greek military delegation will be visiting the US in the coming weeks by invitation to observe a live-fire exercise of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). The focus of the visit is to see the PrSM in action.
Reportedly, an upgraded multiple-launch rocket system is required for the missile’s use. Thus, the Hellenic Army is considering upgrading two-thirds of its fleet of 36 MLRS to the A2 level. This is expected to cost around 1.1 billion euros.
A further option is to upgrade just one-third of the fleet, with a parallel procurement of missiles.
If procured, the Army Tactical Missile System will be replaced by the PrSM, which has a sleeker design and a longer range of more than 400 kilometers (248 miles). The rocket can be launched from both the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and the M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System.
The US Army received the first PrSM late last year, with initial operational capability expected in 2025.
According to Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the missile for the US military:
“The Precision Strike Missile is the next generation in our family of precision-strike, surface-to-surface weapon systems that support deterrence and deliver enhanced capabilities for neutralizing, suppressing and destroying targets at depth. PrSM offers artillery units a new long-range capability supporting brigade, division, corps, Army, theater, Joint and Coalition forces.”
It adds that:
“This new surface-to-surface weapon system will deliver enhanced capabilities to attack, neutralize, suppress and destroy targets using missile-delivered indirect fires out to 499+ kilometers. PrSM provides the Joint Force Commander with increased range, lethality, survivability and missile load out. These enhanced capabilities are critical to the successful execution of fires in support of combined Joint All-Domain Operations.”
The Army Tactical Missile System, currently used by the Greek military, is a tactical ballistic missile designed and manufactured by the US defense company Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) and later Lockheed Martin through acquisitions.
The concept of a conventional tactical ballistic missile was made possible by the doctrinal shift of the late Cold War. This shift rejected the indispensability of an early nuclear strike on the Warsaw Pact forces in the event the Cold War went hot.
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