MGM-140 ATACMS

MGM-140 ATACMS
U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center · Public domain · source
Name	MGM-140 ATACMS
Caption	An ATACMS launch from an M270 MLRS.
Type	Tactical ballistic missile
Origin	United States
Used by	See #Deployment and users
Designer	Ling-Temco-Vought
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
Unit cost	Approximately $1.3 million (FY2021)
Production date	1986–2007
Service	1991–present
Engine	Solid-propellant rocket
Weight	3,690 lb (1,674 kg)
Length	13 ft (4.0 m)
Diameter	24 in (610 mm)
Wingspan	55 in (1.4 m)
Speed	Supersonic, Mach 3+
Vehicle range	190 mi (300 km) (Block IA)
Guidance	Inertial navigation system with GPS update
Launch platform	M270 MLRS, M142 HIMARS

MGM-140 ATACMS. The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is a tactical ballistic missile developed for the United States Army to provide deep-strike capability against high-value targets. Entering service in 1991, it has been a cornerstone of American long-range precision fires, launched from the M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS platforms. Its development was driven by Cold War requirements to counter Warsaw Pact formations and it has seen significant combat use in conflicts from the Gulf War to the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Development and history

The program originated in the early 1980s under the Reagan Administration's broader military modernization efforts, with the United States Department of Defense seeking a new surface-to-surface missile to replace the aging Lance (missile). Prime contractor Ling-Temco-Vought won the development contract, with the system designed to be fired from existing M270 MLRS launchers. Key operational requirements emphasized striking enemy command and control nodes, air defense systems, and logistics hubs beyond the range of conventional tube artillery. The first test flight occurred at White Sands Missile Range in 1986, and the system achieved initial operational capability with the United States Army in 1991, just in time for deployment during Operation Desert Storm.

Design and variants

The missile utilizes a solid-propellant rocket motor and a warhead section that varies by block variant. Early models like the MGM-140A (Block I) carried a wide-area submunition warhead containing approximately 950 M74 bomblets. The improved MGM-140B (Block IA) introduced a Global Positioning System-aided inertial navigation system for greater accuracy and a reduced payload of 300 M74 bomblets to extend range under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Subsequent variants, including the MGM-164 (Block II) and MGM-168 (Block IVA), featured different warhead types like the BAT anti-armor submunition and a unitary high-explosive penetrator for hardened targets. All variants are packaged in a sealed launch pod that resembles a standard MLRS rocket container.

Operational history

The system saw its combat debut in 1991 during the Gulf War, where the United States Army fired over 30 missiles against targets including Iraqi surface-to-air missile sites and logistics centers. It was used again during the Iraq War in 2003 and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). In 2023, the United States began providing older M39 (Block I) variants to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for use against Russian Armed Forces. These transfers were followed by newer M57 (Block IA) missiles in 2024, with the system used to strike targets such as the Kerch Bridge, Saky air base, and Russian Black Sea Fleet assets in Sevastopol.

Capabilities and specifications

The missile is approximately 13 feet long, weighs about 3,690 pounds, and achieves speeds exceeding Mach 3. Range is variant-dependent, with the original Block I reaching about 165 kilometers, while the GPS-guided Block IA extends to roughly 300 kilometers. Guidance is provided by a strapdown inertial navigation system updated in flight by GPS signals for circular error probable accuracy within 10 meters for unitary warhead variants. The launch platforms, the tracked M270 MLRS and wheeled M142 HIMARS, can each carry two missiles or a mix of missiles and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System rockets, offering significant tactical flexibility to brigade combat teams.

Deployment and users

The primary operator is the United States Army, which has fielded the system with various Field Artillery Branch (United States) units. The United States Marine Corps also acquired a limited number of missiles. Internationally, the system has been exported under the Foreign Military Sales program to several close allies. These include South Korea, which deploys them for deterrence against the Korean People's Army; Romania, as part of its NATO modernization; Poland; Greece; and Turkey. Bahrain has also been approved for purchase. The transfer of missiles to Ukraine in 2023 marked its first provision to a non-NATO country engaged in active combat.

Category:Surface-to-surface missiles of the United States Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1990s Category:Cold War missiles of the United States