The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATacMS) is a surface-to-surface missile (SSM), range over 100 miles, with solid propellant, 13 feet height and 24 inches diameter, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It has some variations in munition payload and range:
The ATACMS can be fired from MLRS launchers, including the M270, M270 IPDS, M270A1, and HIMARS. An ATACMS launch container has a lid patterned with six circles like a standard MLRS rocket lid.
The first use of the ATACMS in a combat capability was during Operation Desert Storm, where a total of 32 missiles were fired from the M270 MLRS.
During the Operation Iraqi Freedom more than 450 missiles were fired.[2]
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A Block II variant (initially designated MGM-140C) was designed to carry a payload of 13 Brilliant Anti-Tank (BAT) munitions manufactured by Northrop Grumman. However, in late 2003 the U.S. Army terminated the funding for the BAT-equipped ATACMS and therefore the MGM-164A never became fully operational.[3]
Originally designated Block IA Unitary (MGM-140E) the new Block IVA variant was designed to carry a 500 lb unitary HE warhead instead of the M74 bomblets. It uses the same GPS/INS guidance as the MGM-140B. The development contract was placed in December 2000, and flight-testing began in April 2001. The first production contract was awarded in March 2002.[4]
In 2002 the South Korean Army purchased 111 ATACMS Block I and 110 ATACMS Block IA missiles, which were deployed in 2004. An affiliated company of the Hanwha Group of Korea produces munitions for the missile systems under a license from Lockheed Martin.[5]
On 20 December 2010, Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract for $916 million for 226 'tactical missiles' and 24 launcher modification kits for the UAE and Taiwan.[6]
Bahrain,[7] Greece[8] and Turkey[9] are also known users of the ATACMS.[10][11]