WASHINGTON — The United Kingdom announced plans to join the US Army's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program and allocated £190 million, equivalent to $254 million, for the purchase of these missiles.

The British Ministry of Defence stated the investment provides the British Army with a deep surface-to-surface ballistic missile capability. The ministry said this new capability will complement the Army's existing One Way Effector (OWE) drone and ground-launched cruise missile capabilities. A mix of long-range precision strike options is needed for defense and deterrence as part of NATO, the ministry stated.

PrSM is a proven ballistic missile capable of reaching supersonic speeds and traveling up to 500 kilometers (311 miles), according to the British Ministry of Defence. The ministry stated PrSM is fully compatible with the UK's upgraded M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launchers, requiring no additional vehicle modifications for integration. In the U.S., PrSM is launched from the M142 High Mobility Artillery System.

The UK, US, and Australia constitute the AUKUS trilateral arrangement. The British Ministry of Defence stated that working with the U.S. and Australia aligns with AUKUS Pillar 2, which refers to the tech-sharing elements of the initiative. The UK press release indicated that benefits extend beyond immediate military capability, including collaborative development of the missile and the involvement of British industry to produce it, creating jobs in the UK.

The UK's Defense Investment Plan was published last week. A senior UK official stated in Washington that defense announcements would be made at the annual NATO Leaders' Summit in Ankara. The official added that the UK released its Defense Investment Plan ahead of the Ankara summit to demonstrate agreement with President Trump's statements on Europeans stepping up.