An innovative system represents groundbreaking evolution of US naval strike capabilities.

It incorporates both the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).

The Sea Launched ATACMS from Shipboard HIMARS, referred to as "SLASH" or "HIMARS Afloat," integrates the proven precision of the M142 HIMARS with the versatility of shipboard deployment, enabling rapid, long-range missile strikes from maritime platforms.

By combining land-based precision with naval mobility, SLASH expands the operational reach of US military forces and offers a powerful tool in modern warfare.

HIMARS, a missile launcher mounted on a five-ton truck, can launch ATACMS missiles, which have a range of roughly 300km.

With this range, US joint forces could conduct high-volume, continual strikes in key locations including the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb strait, Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz and Arabian Gulf.

The Middle East is home to some of the world's most essential waterways, with more than 10% of global trade traversing the Red Sea alone.

Last August, 4 million barrels per day passed through Bab al-Mandeb. Almost 90% of all oil leaving the Persian Gulf must pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

PrSM

SLASH allows US forces to engage adversary targets from a safe distance at sea, enhancing operational flexibility and range and reducing risk to personnel and assets.

The addition of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), a long-range precision ballistic missile, to HIMARS would further extend attack ranges.

The PRsM, which is slated to replace the ATACMS, deepens the promise of SLASH.

While the ATACMS uses pods that contain a single missile with a maximum range of roughly 300km, PrSMs provide two rounds per launch pod, with maximum ranges exceeding 400km. Further technological advancements using ramjet propulsion could extend the range to 1,000km.

The first set of PrSMs was delivered to the Army in December 2023.

Last summer, the US Army test fired a PrSM from the Pacific island of Palau against a moving target at sea.

Launching PrSMs from shipboard HIMARS platforms could provide even more robust standoff capabilities that enable strikes against high-value targets without exposing forces to unnecessary risks and counterattacks.

The deployment of PrSMs from a maritime platform would heighten the range and unpredictability of strikes from US forces, complicating adversary defense and bolstering deterrence in key theaters.