WASHINGTON \u2014 The United Kingdom announced today it planned to join the US Army\u2019s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program after having set aside \u00a3190 million ($254 million) to buy the long-range munitions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe investment in PrSM gives the British Army a deep surface-to-surface ballistic missile capability that will complement the Army\u2019s One Way Effector (OWE) drone and ground-launched cruise missile capability,\u201d the British Ministry of Defence wrote in an announcement<\/a>. \u201cThis will create a mix of long-range precision strike options that the British Army needs to defend and deter as part of NATO.\u201d<\/p>\n Though today\u2019s announcement comes as NATO leaders meet in Turkey to promote defense spending<\/a> amid criticism from the White House, the money for the PrSM procurement was set aside in the UK\u2019s Defense Investment Plan (DIP), published last week<\/a> after much delay and controversy.<\/p>\n \u201cPrSM is a proven ballistic missile capable of reaching supersonic speeds and traveling up to 500km [311 miles],\u201d the MoD said. \u201cIt is fully compatible with the UK\u2019s existing upgraded M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launchers, meaning no additional vehicle modifications will be required.\u201d (The US also launches the PrSM from the M142 High Mobility Artillery System<\/a>.)<\/p>\n If the deal goes through as outlined, the UK will be the second partner country to sign up for the new missile. In mid-2025, Australia and the US inked a joint development Memorandum of Understanding for Australian procurement of the missile and potential onshore production of the missile in the Lucky Country.<\/p>\n Having the participation of those three countries \u2014 which also make up the AUKUS trilateral arrangement \u2014 is intended to provide \u201csignificant benefits\u201d that extend beyond the \u201cimmediate\u201d military capability, the MoD said.<\/p>\n \u201cBenefits include working collaboratively to further develop the missile \u2014 bringing in the best of British industry, and workshare to produce the missile \u2014 creating good jobs in the UK,\u201d the UK press release added. \u201cWorking with the US and Australia, the programme aligns strongly with AUKUS Pillar 2.\u201d Pillar 2 refers to the tech-sharing elements of the AUKUS initiative.<\/p>\n The UK noted that this decision does not mean it is turning its back on the Deep Precision Strike and European Long Range Strike Approach already in the works with European partners including Germany. The PrSM buy, the MoD said, is meant to be a \u201ccomplementary capability.\u201d In 2025, Germany and the UK signed an agreement<\/a> to deliver a Deep Precision Strike weapon, capable of hitting targets at a range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles) in the next decade.<\/p>\n