An ATACMS launch container (pod) has one rocket but a lid patterned with six circles like a standard MLRS rocket lid to prevent an enemy from discerning what type of missile is loaded.[1]
History
Pre-development
The concept of a conventional tactical ballistic missile was made possible by the doctrinal shift of the late Cold War, which rejected the indispensability of an early nuclear strike on the Warsaw Pact forces in the event the Cold War went hot.[10] The AirLand Battle and Follow-on Forces Attack doctrines, which emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, necessitated a conventional-armed (hence much more accurate) missile to strike enemy reserves, so the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command sponsored the Simplified Inertial Guidance Demonstrator (SIG-D) program.[10]
Within this program, Ling-Temco-Vought developed a solid-fuel analog of the MGM-52 Lance missile, designated T-22,[11] with a new RLG-based inertial guidance package, which demonstrated unprecedented accuracy.[10] In 1978, DARPA started the Assault Breaker technology demonstration program to attack armor formations with many mobile hard targets at standoff ranges. It used the T-22 missile and the Patriot-based Martin Marietta T-16 missile with cluster warheads.
Development
Development of the missile now known as ATACMS started in 1980, when the U.S. Army decided to replace the Lance with a similar nuclear, but also chemical or biological, tipped solid-fuel missile dubbed the Corps Support Weapon System (CSWS). Concerned that two branches were developing too many similar missiles with different warheads, the Department of Defense merged the program with DARPA's Assault Breaker in 1981, and with United States Air Force (USAF)'s Conventional Standoff Weapon (CSW) in 1982–1983.[12]
The new missile system, designated Joint Tactical Missile System (JTACMS), soon encountered USAF resistance to the idea of an air-launched ballistic missile. As a result, in 1984 the USAF ended its participation in the non-cruise missile portion of the program, leading to the missile being redesignated as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).[12]
Production
In March 1986, Ling-Temco-Vought won the contract for the missile design. The system was assigned the MGM-140 designation. The first test launch came two years later, thanks to earlier experience of the company with previous programs.
In 2007, the U.S. Army terminated the ATACMS program due to cost, ending the ability to replenish stocks. To sustain the remaining inventory, the ATACMS Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) was launched, which refurbishes or replaces propulsion and navigation systems, replaces cluster munition warheads with the unitary blast fragmentation warhead, and adds a proximity fuze option to obtain area effects. Deliveries were projected to start in 2018. The ATACMS SLEP is a bridging initiative to provide time to complete analysis and development of a successor capability to the aging ATACMS stockpile, which could be ready around 2022.[needs update][13]
In January 2015, Lockheed Martin received a contract to develop and test new hardware for Block I ATACMS missiles to eliminate the risk of unexploded ordnance by 2016.[4][5] The first modernized Tactical Missile System (TACMS) was delivered in September 2016 with updated guidance electronics and added capability to defeat area targets using a unitary warhead, without leaving behind unexploded ordnance.[16][17]
Lockheed was awarded a production contract for launch assemblies as part of the SLEP in August 2017.[18]
In 2021, Lockheed Martin was contracted to upgrade existing M39 munitions to the M57 variant with a WDU-18/B warhead from the Harpoon missile by 2024.[19]
A plan announced in October 2016 to add an existing seeker to enable the ATACMS to strike moving targets on land and at sea[20] was terminated in December 2020 to pursue other missile efforts.[21]
Replacement
Starting in 2016, in view of some lagging in the world arms race, where ATACMS had become outdated, Long-Range Precision Fires (LRPF) began to be developed,[22] which was later renamed Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), with the idea of replacing ATACMS missiles with the "Increment 1" phase (version) of PrSM.[23][24][25]
That exact replacement began to fill the U.S. Army in late 2023.[26]
Versions
M39 (Block I/Block 1, MGM-140 [initially] or MGM-140A [later])[27] missile with inertial guidance. It carries 950 M74 anti-personnel and anti‑materiel (APAM[28]) bomblets, each about the size of a baseball[29] and weighing 1.3 lb (0.59 kg),[2] which are dispersed across a circular area approximately 677 feet (206 m) in diameter, covering 360,000 square feet (33,000 m2) in total and effective against parked aircraft, ammunition dumps, air defense systems, and gatherings of personnel, but not against armored vehicles.[30] The size of the affected area can be changed by modifying the height at which the payload is released.[31] Range of Block I is 25–165 km (15-100 mi).[32] The M74 has a reported failure rate of 2%,[33] or 19 for each M39 missile fired. Video is available of a U.S. Army test of the M39 at a mock airfield.[34][35][36]
NATACMS (a Navy version of Army Tactical System[37]) – a ship-launched ATACMS variant for the U.S. Navy, was under development at 1990s and even twice was tested at the early 1995: first – from the ground at the White Sands Missile Range and the second – from the flight deck of USS Mount Vernon (LSD-39) using a modified Army M270 tracked vehicle at a target 75 nautical miles (86 mi) distant on San Clemente Island off Southern California. Last testing missile carried 730 Mk 74 (probably meaning M74 munition) submunitions and achieved a scatter pattern bracketing the target vehicle (including three direct hits) located at the aim point. Despite all test objectives were met or even exceeded development has later been cancelled by unknown reasons. Same way that missile's any other designation information is also unknown.[38][39][40]
M39A1 (Block IA/Block 1A, MGM-140B)[27] missile with GPS-aided guidance. It carries 300 M74 bomblets. There were 610 produced between 1997 and 2003. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, 74 were fired at Iraqi targets.[41][42] The remaining ones are being updated to M57E1 missiles.[43][44] The M39A1 and later variants can only be used with the M270A1 (or variants thereof) and M142 launchers. Range: 20–300 kilometres (12–186 mi).[45][46]
SLATACMS – A Sea-Launched TACMS variant of the Army Block IA missile for undersea operations (intended for a fire support from the sea) with the maximum launch depth limit of 175 feet (150 feet recommended taking in view potential drag coefficient of 0.2), identical warhead (300 M74 fragmentation grenades[47]), same diameter of 23.9" and only dimensional changes of length from 156.5" to 199.0", – for fins to be folded within a smaller envelope and the addition of fin module, which had to be jettisoned after broach and before missile motor ignition resulting in a flight missile length of 170.13", behind the boattail for stability during underwater flight, – to fit primarily within the most advanced (688i, FLTIII/Flight III) design of Los Angeles-classsubmarinevertical launching system (VLS) capsules, having 12 of such ones on board. Its history began when USN Strategic System Program Office authorized a study in June 1995[48] to evaluate undersea cold launch capability of MGM-140A from above mentioned submarine in view of that missile great operational history. However, on the Hearings on National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 held on March, 1996, become known that USN plan to use not only APAM but also a BAT (Brilliant Anti-Tank) munitions payload,[49] and when Lockheed Martin presented SLATACMS press-release at August, 1996, there was already described modern Block IA (which is MGM-140B) missile as a base modification specimen for the SLATACMS. Choosing a submarine VLS as the appropriate launcher, that was designed by default for Tomahawk missile, which have ~x1,5 length of SLATACMS, exclusively, had lead to creating of unique combined missile and launch capsule as an all-up-around (AUR) or SLATACMS AUR, which with SLATACMS inside clearly fits the submarine's Tomahawk-designed VLS. While testing of SLATACMS AUR assembly became obvious a great Weapon-Induced (Near Miss) Shock (meaning shock motions (displacement) experienced by any part of weapon itself or its assembly) however still affected no any part of SLATACMS itself (at the stage of Block IA ATACMS this problem was already fixed inside the missile) but missile itself inside the SLATACMS AUR assembly that after long and painstaking study resulted in missile control section structure extension to accommodate the new control surfaces and blast tube, that way control section structure length increase by about 13.6" for a total length of 26.07" and the exterior angle altering to 6°, which allow space for the fins to fold within the capsule envelope and some number of valuable upgrades not affecting the missile size.[50] On December, 9th, 1996 there was an expert opinion about using different weapons while sea-to-ground landing, including SLATACAMS with APAM to suppress infantry as it is clearly effective vs such only target, but totally ineffective vs spread ones because of its cost therefore cannot compete that task with extended-range 5-inch guns, however SLATACAMS filled with BAT munition can effectively prevent armored vehicles engaging a landing force.[51] Despite idea of SLATACMS was heavily popularized already at the early 1995[52] there's no any information available about further development or production or ever operation from submarine. There is no reasons to think Tomahawk missile pushed out SLATACMS from the race as that was believed to compliment the Tomahawk features by providing a short time at flight, easily and quickly targeted and being supersonic ballistic missile that was incredibly difficult to intercept.[53] In cotrast, despite no detailed public information available from the time of its development beginning, at the year 1999 Navy still planned to provide (employ) subs in their "Land Attack Standard Missile" (LASM[54]) program, that was closed at the year 2003,[55] with ATACMS unitary warhead modifications,[56] including twice lowering the warhead content weight to 250-pound (110 kg) (which is equal to much newer ATACMS specimen modification - an MGM-168A - and a half of its warhead load), that had to make possible to lower length to 2/3 of ATACMS missile and somehow fill every Tomahawk-designed submarine VLS tube with three of such a tactical ballistic missiles that way being triple-stacked, and, that way, each i.e. modern SSGNOhio-class submarine, having 22 tubes for 7 Tomahawks each (154 total), could carry up to 462 such TBMs;[57] at the year 2003, after LASM program was closed, Lockheed Martin proposed to use a combination of UAVs with, in fact, SLATACMS technology for converting of four excessive and oldest Ohio-class submarines from SSBNs to SSGN multirole platforms to conduct a variety of land-attack missions.[58] Despite such a contrary information telling SLATACMS development still slowly continues, as of August 2024[update] no any further information nor about program closure nor development continuation publicly available.
M48 (Block I/Block 1 Unitary [initially] Block IV/Block 4 [later],[59] Quick Reaction Unitary [QRU], MGM-140E [initially] or MGM-168A)[27] is a variant of MGM-140B ATACMS Block IA,[60] a High-Explosive (HE), single-stage, Solid-Propellant (SP), Inertial-Navigation-System (INS)/GPS guided, missile containing the Quick Reaction Unitary (QRU) warhead,[61] missile with GPS-aided guidance. It carries the 500-pound (230 kg) WDU-18/B penetrating high explosive blast fragmentation warhead of the US Navy's Harpoon anti-ship missile, which was packaged into the newly designed WAU-23/B warhead section. There were 176 produced between 2001 and 2004, when production ceased in favor of the M57. Operational since 2002.[62] During Operation Iraqi Freedom, 16 were fired at Iraqi targets and a further 42 were fired during Operation Enduring Freedom.[41][42] The remaining ones are in the US Army and US Marine Corps' arsenal. Range: 70–300 km (43–186 mi).
M57 (Block IA/Block 1A Quick Reaction Unitary [initially][27] Block IVA/Block 4A [later], TACMS 2000 or T2K[63] or MGM-140E [initially] or MGM-168A [later]) – is, in fact, same missile as M48, so then having exactly the same designation, with reduced production costs up to $100000 per missile with use of so-called "TACMS 2000" program.[64] M39A1-based upgraded missile with GPS-aided guidance. It carries the same WAU-23/B warhead section as the M48. There were 513 produced between 2004 and 2013.[41][42] Accuracy is 9 m (30 ft) CEP (Circular Error Probable). Range: 70–300 km (43–186 mi).[65]
M57E1 (ATACMS MOD or MOD [modification, modified][66] or MGM-140E [initially] or MGM-168A [later]) – is, in fact, same missile as M48, so then having exactly the same designation, with only difference it was not produced from scratch but "refurbishing" (modifying) obsolete M39 and M39A1 missiles[64] missile with GPS-aided guidance. M57E1 is the designation for upgraded M39 and M39A1 with re-grained motor, updated navigation and guidance software and hardware, and a WAU-23/B warhead section instead of the M74 bomblets. This variant includes a proximity sensor for airburst detonation.[43] Production commenced in 2017 with an initial order for 220.[41][42]
M39A2 (Block II/Block 2, MGM-140C [initially] or MGM-164/MGM-164A [later]) High-Explosive (HE), single-stage, Solid-Propellant (SP), carrier, Inertial-Navigation-System (INS)/GPS guided missile used to dispense Brilliant Anti-armour Technology (BAT) submunitions. Has the same INS/GPS guidance system as the MGM-140B but carried 13 x BAT submunitions in the enlarged warhead section.[27][67][3] The MGM-164A is a designation of the same MGM-140C but produced after applying by Lockheed Martin a "TACMS 2000" (or "TACMS block II program" regarding Block 2 missiles) program that believed to crucially lower the production cost of each missile by $100000,[68] but not at the expense of BAT munitions.[69]
The MGM-140D [initially] or MGM-164B [later] (Block IIA/Block 2A) that was firstly believed to be some sort of upgrade of the MGM-140B ATACMS Block IA missile "with numerous structural improvements".[39] subsequently become known as same way improved version of exactly MGM-140C (Block II) with same BAT ordnance, but long-ranged. BAT programs (MGM-140C and MGM-140D) was cancelled totally at 2003.[62][70]
M39A3 (P [Penetrator],[66] Block III/Block 3) 220-km ranged High-Explosive (HE, 120 kg warhead), single-stage, Solid-Propellant (SP), Inertial-Navigation-System (INS)/GPS guided, missile used to deliver a Manoeuvrable Re-entry Vehicle (MARV) and penetrator warhead, which is MGM-140B Block 1A (M39A1) missile with a Mk 4 Manoeuvrable Re-entry Vehicle (MARV) as used in the UGM-96 Trident C-4 strategic missile system. It was developed with a program starting at 2001 but terminated in 2004 after the first prototype was tested, after which it never went into production for unknown reasons.[63][71]
MGM-140F is believed to be the last known designation of some of new ATACMS variant or upgrade while ATACMS in production (up to 2007), that had place in January 2003, but no more detailed information was ever revealed.[63][72]
Starting from October 2023 Ukraine, using the earliest (short-ranged) versions of ATACMS during the Russian invasion of Ukraine,[78] where these missiles threatened the Russian-occupied "land corridor" to Crimea in the southern part of Ukraine[79] as well as the vast majority of the Russian-operated air bases at the north of occupied Crimea, which significantly complicated use of attack helicopters, previously based there, by Russia against Ukrainian targets.[30][35]
Starting from 19 February 2024 there were rumors about possible near-future use of later (longer-ranged) versions of ATACMS by Ukraine,[80] which in 2 months were proven correct, when an ATACMS missile attack to the Russian-occupied Dzhankoi air base, which was positioned much further from nearest Ukraine-controlled territory then earliest version of ATACMS' strike range, resulting in six main explosions and several reported secondary explosions.,[81] and was officially confirmed within a week, when U.S. officials revealed Ukraine already received and deployed the missiles to a combat ready status a month ago.[82][83][84][85][86][87]
On June 23rd, 2024 an incident happened during an attack on Sevastopol, where Russian air defense missiles were fired at multiple ATACMS missiles resulting in explosions that caused 2 to 4 dead and more 150 injured people on Uchkiivka Beach, where locals reported that no air raid warning had taken place and therefore people on the beach were not able to evacuate.[88][89]
EW vs usability
The ATACMS uses multiple inertial navigation units knitted together with software, so it is able to maintain accuracy when GPS is lost from Russian electronic warfare better than other GPS-guided weapons.[90]
Reverse engineering
On July, 1st, 2024, Russia claimed to have recovered an ATACMS missile guidance system intact and Russian officials are studying the guidance system to "identify any weak spots".[91]
Poland: The Polish Land Forces purchased 30 M57 ATACMS, which were all delivered by June 2022.[101] Another 45 M57 ATACMS were ordered in February 2023.[102]
Ukraine: The Armed Forces of Ukraine operates ATACMS M39 Block I;[108] these were used in combat for the first time on 17 October 2023.[109] The longer range ATACMS with bomblets and unitary warheads were also reportedly supplied and used starting in March 2024.[84]
Estonia: A request to buy up to 18 M57 ATACMS was approved in July 2022.[111]
Latvia: A request to buy 10 M57 ATACMS missile pods was approved in October 2023.[112]
Lithuania: A request to buy 18 M57 ATACMS missile pods was approved in November 2022.[113]
Morocco: Ordered 18 M142 HIMARS launchers with 40 M57 ATACMS missile pods along with other MLRS munitions (M30A2, M31A2) for an estimated cost of US$524 million in April 2023.[114]
Taiwan: In October 2020, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of 64 M57 ATACMS to Taiwan.[115][needs update]
Discarded
Finland: A Finnish contract for 70 missiles was canceled due to high prices in March 2014.[116]
^
The M74 APAM (Anti‐Personnel Anti‐Matériel) bomblet weighs 590 g (21 oz) and is 58.9 mm (2.32 in) in diameter. It has a Composition B High‐Explosive shaped charge. It is initiated by an M219A1E1 fuze with a booster pellet which also creates an incendiary effect, and is surrounded by a tungsten fragmenting wall.[73][75]
References
^ ab"MGM-140 ATACMS". Military Today. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
^ abcdEngineering Director & Chief Engineer, Paul E. Turner. "Precision Fires Rocket and Missile Systems"(PDF). US Army Precision Fires Rocket & Missile Systems Project Office. Archived(PDF) from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
^ abcdColonel Joe Russo, CO 14 Marines (May 2018). "Long-Range Precision Fires"(PDF). Marine Corps Gazette: 40. Archived(PDF) from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Pincoski, Mark (24 April 2007). "Precision Guided Missiles and Rockets Program Review"(PDF). Precision Strike Annual Programs Review. US Army Precision Fires Rocket & Missile Systems unit- Redstone Arsenal. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
^"Arms Sales Notification Bahrain". Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense. 8 November 2018. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
^"Arms Sales Notification Romania". Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
^"Arms Sales Notification Poland". Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense. 6 February 2019. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
^"Arms Sales Notification Qatar". Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense. 4 January 2013. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
^"Arms Sales Notification UAE". Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense. 9 October 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
^"Arms Sales Notification Taiwan". Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.