ATACMS Credit - via Andreas Parsch

Short range ballistic missile. Country: USA. Status: Development. Department of Defence Designation: MGM-140.

Historical Essay © Andreas Parsch

Lockheed-Martin (LTV) MGM-140 ATACMS

The ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) is the U.S. Army's current short/medium-range tactical ballistic missile system. Development began in 1982, when the DOD combined the Army's CSWS (Corps Support Weapon System, started in 1980 as a successor to MGM-52 Lance) and the Air Force's CSW (Conventional Standoff Weapon) programs into the JTACMS (Joint Tactical Missile System) program. In 1985, after pre-development contracts had been awarded to several companies, the USAF pulled out of the program, and JTACMS was renamed ATACMS.

In May 1986 the prime contract for development of ATACMS was awarded to Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV), and shortly thereafter, the missile designator MGM-140 was assigned. The first flight of an XMGM-140A missile occurred in April 1988, and in December of that year, low-rate production started. The MGM-140A ATACMS became operational in January 1991, and began to replace the MGM-52 Lance SRBM. In U.S. Army service, the ATACMS missile is also known as M39. LTV's missile division was aquired by Loral in 1992, forming Loral Vought Systems, which was in turn purchased by Lockheed-Martin in 1996. The current prime contractor for ATACMS is Lockheed-Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

The MGM-140A, also known as ATACMS Block I, is powered by a single-stage solid-fuel rocket motor, and is guided to the target by a ring-laser gyro based inertial system. The warhead section consists of 950 M74 anti-personnel/anti-materiel (APAM) bomblets, which are distributed over an area of 33000 m² (360000 sq.ft). The missile is launched from a modified M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) launcher, and maximum range is about 165 km (100 miles). The ATACMS is tasked primarily with the destruction of tactical surface-to-surface missile sites, air defense sites, and C3 (Command, Control and Communications) complexes. 32 MGM-140A missiles were fired in Operation Desert Storm against Iraqi targets.

In 1992 the design of an improved missile was begun, designated MGM-140B ATACMS Block IA. The MGM-140B includes GPS in its guidance system, which significantly increases accuracy at long ranges. To fully exploit this new feature, the warhead weight was reduced and only 275 M74 bomblets are carried, increasing the range to 300 km (185 miles). The first XMGM-140B test flight occurred in October 1994, and the MGM-140B entered service in 1998.

The designation MGM-140C was originally allocated to the ATACMS Block II, which carries the Northrop-Grumman BAT (Brilliant Anti-Tank) guided submunition. This variant has since been redesignated as MGM-164A, q.v. for further information.

The MGM-140D is described by source [4] as an "upgraded missile with numerous structural improvements." Most probably, this refers to an upgrade of the MGM-140B ATACMS Block IA.

The ATACMS Block IA Unitary, designated MGM-140E, is a modified variant of the MGM-140B. It substitutes a 500 lb unitary HE warhead (based on the WAU-23/B warhead section of the Navy's AGM-84E SLAM) for the M74 bomblets. The development contract was placed in December 2000, and flight-testing of MGM-140Bs modified to ATACMS Block IA Unitary configuration began in April 2001. The first production contract for new-built MGM-140E missiles was awarded in March 2002.

ATACMS Block III is a projected hard-target penetrator version with a planned range of about 350 km. As far as I know, the Block III has not yet received an MGM-140 designator. A ship-launched ATACMS variant for the U.S. Navy (called NATACMS) was also under development, but has been cancelled.

Until March 2002, more than 1600 MGM-140A and 500 MGM-140B missiles have been built, and production is continuing with the MGM-140B and -140E variants.

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for MGM-140A (except where noted):

[1] Hajime Ozu: "Missile 2000 - Reference Guide to World Missile Systems", Shinkigensha, 2000
[2] Redstone Arsenal Historical Information Website
[3] Lockheed-Martin Missiles and Fire Control Website
[4] Department of Defense Missile Nomenclature Records

Manufacturer: Vought. Guidance contractor: Honeywell. Maximum range: 165 km (102 mi). Version:

Block 1. Department of Defence Designation: MGM-140 Block 1. Popular Name: ATACMS (Block 1).

In production. Advanced TACtical Missile System, Fire Support , Deep Attack Field Artillery, 1000 bomblets

Guidance contractor: Honeywell. Total Mass: 1,659 kg (3,657 lb). Core Diameter: 0.61 m (2.00 ft). Total Length: 3.96 m (13.00 ft). Span: 0.82 m (2.70 ft). Maximum range: 165 km (102 mi). Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Guidance: Inertial. Version:

Block 1A. Department of Defence Designation: MGM-140 Block 1A. Popular Name: ATACMS (Block 1A).

In production.

Guidance contractor: Honeywell. Total Mass: 1,319 kg (2,907 lb). Core Diameter: 0.61 m (2.00 ft). Total Length: 3.96 m (13.00 ft). Span: 0.82 m (2.70 ft). Maximum range: 300 km (180 mi). Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Guidance: Inertial + GPS. Version:

Block 2. Department of Defence Designation: MGM-140 Block 2. Popular Name: ATACMS (Block 2).

In development.