Jane Edwards 
- Lockheed’s PrSM Increment 4 design uses an L3Harris propulsion system
- The Army plans prototype flyoffs in fiscal years 2027 and 2028
- The 2027 Defense R&D Summit will explore AI, unmanned systems and more
The U.S. Army has downselected Lockheed Martin to develop and demonstrate prototypes for Increment 4 of the Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM, a long-range munition.
Prototype efforts such as PrSM Increment 4 are part of the Army’s push to field long-range strike capabilities. Defense officials and industry leaders will discuss unmanned systems, 5G, trusted AI and autonomy, quantum computing and advanced space technologies at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2027 Defense R&D Summit on Feb. 4. Secure your seat early to join the conversation on the technologies shaping the future of warfare.
Lockheed said Monday the downselection supports maturing, testing and readying its Increment 4 design for fielding through flyoff rounds in 2027 and 2028.
What Will Lockheed Do Under the PrSM Increment 4 Downselection?
Lockheed will develop and test prototype missiles designed to launch from the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, and strike relocatable land targets and moving maritime targets at least 1,000 kilometers away. The company’s Increment 4 design uses a propulsion system from L3Harris Technologies.
In September, the Army selected Lockheed and four other companies to build PrSM Increment 4 prototype systems under separate other transaction authority agreements.
The competition will unfold in two phases. Prototype development will lead to a competitive flyoff and downselect in fiscal year 2027. Vendors with mature, successful designs will then be eligible for follow-on agreements and a final flyoff in FY 2028.
Randy Crites, vice president of advanced programs at Lockheed, said the company is combining a proven missile foundation with a strong industrial base to quickly develop and demonstrate prototypes for the program.
“Warfighters need precision strike capabilities that can reach farther and give them more options when the mission demands it,” Crites said. “We’re proud to step up to this challenge and bring the right capability forward.”
What Is Lockheed Doing to Support PrSM Increment 4?
Lockheed has invested more than $300 million with industry partners to mature the missile’s propulsion technologies and $250 million in its Strigo Product Center, which develops seeker and sensor technologies used in the guidance package.
Lockheed operates a $300 million additive manufacturing and automation line for missile components. It is expanding its Camden, Arkansas, facility, which produces earlier PrSM increments, to support Increment 4 production.
How Has Lockheed Expanded Its PrSM Work?
The Increment 4 prototype work adds to Lockheed’s existing PrSM efforts with the Army. In March, the Department of War reached a deal with Lockheed to accelerate PrSM production. The deal includes investments in tooling, facility upgrades and testing infrastructure to reduce lead times. It was one of several framework agreements to scale munitions production the company signed in the first quarter.
In June, the Army awarded Lockheed an $8.4 billion contract modification to expand PrSM Increment 1 production and extend procurement through fiscal 2032. In July, the company received a $347.5 million Army contract to improve prototype air and missile defense systems.
In September, Lockheed secured a $1.21 billion contract for PrSM Increment 2 Early Operational Capability. Increment 2 adds maritime strike capability, and its multimode seeker engaged moving maritime targets in a March 2026 flight test.
