UK to join US Army’s PrSM program, buy $254M in long-range missiles

The United Kingdom has announced it will join the US Army's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program, having set aside £190 million ($254 million) to buy the long-range munitions. The British Ministry of Defence stated that the investment gives the British Army a deep surface-to-surface ballistic missile capability that will complement its drone and ground-launched cruise missile capabilities. The PrSM is a proven ballistic missile capable of reaching supersonic speeds and traveling up to 500km, and is fully compatible with the UK's existing M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System launchers. The UK will be the second partner country to sign up for the new missile, following Australia. The MoD said the participation of the three AUKUS countries is intended to provide significant benefits beyond immediate military capability, including collaborative development and production that would create jobs in the UK. The UK noted that this decision does not mean it is turning its back on European deep precision strike efforts, but rather that the PrSM buy is meant to be a complementary capability.