Pentagon’s new missile could checkmate China — why everyone’s talking about it

US missile technology advancements in the Pacific: A breakthrough missile developed by the Pentagon is fast becoming the centerpiece of the US military’s effort to deter a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, and it’s already making waves across the Pacific, as per a report.

US and Australia’s Joint Efforts to Boost Pacific Security with PrSM

The Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM (pronounced “prism”), is the latest high-tech weapon in America’s growing arsenal and could tip the scales in the ongoing power struggle between the US and China, as per The Telegraph report. The missile, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, was recently test-fired in Australia, the first time a US ally has used the system in the field, and it hit a target more than 190 miles away, according to the report.

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PrSM vs ATACMS: Key Differences and Advantages

Unlike its predecessor, the ATACMS missile, the PrSM has a reported range of over 300 miles, can reach speeds of around 4,000 km/h, and has the capacity to launch two missiles per pod, doubling its firepower, as per The Telegraph. It can be fired from highly mobile HIMARS or MLRS launchers, the same ones that have helped Ukraine stall Russian advances in recent years, according to the report.

The Role of PrSM in Deterring a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan

The timing of this weapons upgrade comes at a critical time when both the US and China are ramping up their military capabilities in the Pacific, particularly around Taiwan, as China continues to signal that it considers Taiwan as part of its territory even though it has effectively been independent since the 1940s, as reported by The Telegraph.

Earlier this year, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan “could be imminent,” according to the report. In such a scenario, the PrSM would serve as a powerful deterrent, allowing US forces and their allies to inflict serious damage on Chinese naval ships long before they reach Taiwan’s shores, as per The Telegraph report.

Doug Bandow, a senior fellow with the Cato Institute, pointed out that, “There’s always a constant battle with both sides to try to respond to whatever advances the other side has,” adding that, “But I’d say these [PrSMs] have the potential for dramatically increasing the risk factor for a Chinese fleet. So that’s substantial,” as quoted in the report.

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What Makes PrSM a Game-Changer in Modern Warfare?

Taiwan, which already operates 11 HIMARS systems and is expecting more by 2026, could eventually deploy PrSMs as part of its defense strategy, as per The Telegraph report.

Bandow explained that, “The most important advantage of a weapons advance like this is it simply encourages the Chinese to say, ‘No… we don’t have to do it now’,” as quoted by The Telegraph.

He added that, “In my view the best chance of getting through this is to simply have that happen a lot. And hopefully we can get to a point, whatever that point is, where everyone agrees war is really stupid and this won’t happen,” as quoted in the report.

FAQs

Who manufactures the PrSM?
Lockheed Martin is the company behind this advanced missile.

Why is this missile important for Taiwan?
It helps Taiwan defend itself by threatening Chinese naval forces before they can launch an invasion.