ATACMS
| MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) | |
|---|---|
ATACMS launch by HIMARS | |
| Type | Rocket artillery Tactical ballistic missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1991–present |
| Used by |
|
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Ling-Temco-Vought |
| Designed | 1986 |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Unit cost | M39: $820,000 (FY1998) (or ~$1,476,000 FY2022) M57: ~$1,700,000 (FY2021) |
| No. built | 3,700 |
| Specifications () | |
| Mass | 3,690 pounds (1,670 kg) |
| Length | 13 feet (4.0 m) |
| Diameter | 24 inches (610 mm) |
| Wingspan | 55 inches (1.4 m) |
| Maximum firing range | 190 mi (300 km) |
| Warhead | Block 1: 950 M74 bomblets Block 1A: 300 M74 bomblets or 470 lb (213 kg) WDU-18/B HE blast/fragmentation unitary warhead or 545 lb (247 kg) WDU-40/B HE blast penetration Block 2: 13 BAT submunitions |
| Flight ceiling | 160,000 ft (50 km) |
| Maximum speed | Supersonic, in excess of Mach 3 (0.6 mi/s; 1.0 km/s) |
Guidance system | GPS-aided inertial navigation guidance |
Launch platform | M270, HIMARS, GMARS |
The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS /əˈtækəmz/) is an American short-range tactical ballistic missile. It is launched from the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), and the GMARS. Depending on the variant, it has a maximum range of up to 190 miles (300 km).
ATACMS originated in the Joint Tactical Missile System (JTACMS) program, which began in 1980 to replace the MGM-52 Lance. After the United States Air Force withdrew from the program in 1984, the missile was redesignated the Army Tactical Missile System and its development continued under the U.S. Army. Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) later won the missile design contract, and ATACMS entered service in 1991, before evolving through several variants with different guidance systems, warheads, and ranges.
ATACMS has been used in combat in the Gulf War, the Iraq War, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and the 2026 Iran war. It has undergone modernization through the ATACMS Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) and is being replaced in U.S. service by the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).