February 2017 – Lockheed Martin's modernised Tactile Missile System (TACMS) missile continued its streak of successful flight tests with two recent flights at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. These tests represent the third and fourth consecutive successful trials of the modernised TACMS.

In December, a modernised TACMS successfully engaged and destroyed a target in a 71-kilometer test. And in early February, a fourth modernised TACMS destroyed a target at White Sands at a range of more than 200 km. In both tests, the TACMS missiles were launched from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher.

The missiles used in these two tests were produced at Lockheed Martin's Precision Fires Production Center of Excellence in Camden, Arkansas.

As part of the US Army's TACMS Service Life Extension Program, the modernised missile includes new state-of-the-art guidance electronics and added capability to defeat area targets without leaving behind unexploded ordnance. The TACMS modernisation process disassembles and demilitarises TACMS Block 1 and 1A submunition warheads, replacing them with new unitary warheads and bringing them into compliance with Department of Defense policy on cluster munitions and unintended harm to civilians. The modernisation process also resets the missile's 10+ year shelf life. In December 2014, Lockheed Martin and the US Army signed a USD 74 mn contract to take existing TACMS missiles from inventory and modernise them.

The TACMS platform provides maximum flexibility to quickly integrate new payloads and capabilities to meet current and future demands.

With unsurpassed performance and an unwavering commitment to production excellence, TACMS is the only long-range tactical surface-to-surface missile ever employed by the US Army in combat. TACMS missiles can be fired from the entire family of MLRS launchers.