US Deploys Precision Strike Missiles in Iran Combat for First Time; Expands Kinetic Arsenal
PSM combat validation accelerates the US Army's shift toward long-range precision fires as an alternative to air-centric strike doctrine in peer/near-peer environments.
If the system performs as designed against Iranian air defenses and command targets, Army will cite this in FY27 budget testimony to justify increased PSM production rates — currently constrained by Lockheed Martin's tactical missile manufacturing capacity.
This directly competes with Navy and Air Force allocation within the defense industrial base and will reshape HIMARS derivative procurement timelines for allied nations watching this conflict for proof-of-concept.
The PSM debut signals a deliberate expansion of the US kinetic toolkit beyond air and naval strikes that have dominated the first five days of conflict.
HIMARS-delivered precision strike capability extends effective range and payload flexibility in contested airspace where manned aviation faces air defense saturation — a constraint already evident from the 200+ Iranian air defenses neutralized by March 2.
This matters for program momentum: PSM has been in development for years with limited combat validation; a successful operational debut in a high-stakes conflict creates immediate data for Army Futures Command and OSD to justify accelerated procurement and allied integration (South Korea, Poland, Romania all operate or are acquiring HIMARS).
However, the article provides no detail on targeting, damage assessment, or whether PSM replaced or supplemented planned strike packages, leaving unclear whether this represents genuine capability expansion or substitution within existing Operation Epic Fury authorization.
The article does not specify: what targets were engaged, whether strikes achieved their intended effects, how many PSM rounds were fired, or whether this weapon system was pre-positioned for this conflict or deployed specifically in response to Iranian retaliation cycles.
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