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

Time of India

3 days ago

US and Australia's Joint Efforts to Boost Pacific Security with PrSM
PrSM vs ATACMS: Key Differences and Advantages
The Role of PrSM in Deterring a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan
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A breakthrough missile developed by theis fast becoming the centerpiece of the US military's effort to deter a potential, and it's already making waves across the Pacific, as per a report.The, or(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.ALSO READ: Google and Meta no longer cool? 75% of grads are walking away from Big Tech dreams for new career paths 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 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.ALSO READ: NYC office shooting: Security guard Aland Etienne among four killed, gunman Shane Tamura's target remains unclear 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.Lockheed Martin is the company behind this advanced missile.It helps Taiwan defend itself by threatening Chinese naval forces before they can launch an invasion.