Army Tactical Missile System / ATACMS

The Army Tactical Missile System, commonly known as ATACMS, is a U.S. road-mobile short-range ballistic missile fired from M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS launchers. In the United States-Iran Conflict, U.S. artillery units used ATACMS as a land-based deep-strike weapon during Operation Epic Fury, including reported strikes against Iranian naval vessels.

United States-Iran ConflictUnited States

Conflict side: United States
Built by: Lockheed Martin
Built in: United States

Army Tactical Missile System / ATACMS, Short-range tactical ballistic missile, Artillery

Profile

Type: Short-range tactical ballistic missile
Conflict side: United States
Origin: United States
Service note: 1991-present service; documented in Operation Epic Fury in 2026

NATO precision fires deep strike

Service History

In service: Operational since 1991
Used by: United States Army, United States Marine Corps
Wars: United States-Iran Conflict, Gulf War, Iraq War, Russia-Ukraine War

Production History

Designer: Ling-Temco-Vought
Designed: 1980s
Built by: Lockheed Martin
Built in: United States
Unit cost: More than $1 million per missile, depending on variant
Produced: 1990s-present modernization and production activity
Number built: Thousands produced across variants
Variants: MGM-140 / M39 Block I, MGM-164 / M39A1 Block IA, MGM-168 / M48-M57 unitary variants

Specifications

Range: 165 km for Block I; up to about 300 km for Block IA and unitary variants
Launch platform: M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS family launchers
Guidance: Inertial guidance; later variants add GPS-aided inertial guidance
Warhead: Unitary high-explosive or submunition payloads depending on variant
Length: 3.98 m
Diameter: 0.61 m
Launch weight: About 1,321-1,673 kg depending on variant

Conflict Usage

United States-Iran Conflict: Side: United StatesRole: Long-range precision strike and maritime interdictionprecision fires deep strike strike
U.S. Army and Marine artillery launched ATACMS during Operation Epic Fury from outside Iran; reporting citing Gen. Dan Caine said Army ATACMS were used to sink multiple Iranian ships, including a submarine.

Army Tactical Missile System / ATACMS Images

Army Tactical Missile System / ATACMS, Short-range tactical ballistic missile, Artillery - view 1

Army Tactical Missile System / ATACMS, Short-range tactical ballistic missile, Artillery - view 2

Army Tactical Missile System / ATACMS, Short-range tactical ballistic missile, Artillery - view 3

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Sources

ATACMS Advanced Military Rocket TechnologyPublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports manufacturer background and general ATACMS product context. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS)Publisher: CSIS Missile Threat | Note: Supports ATACMS background, variant history, launch platforms, dimensions, warhead types, propulsion, service status, and range specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 US Troops Used ATACMS Missile to Sink Iranian Ships, SubmarinePublisher: Business Insider | Note: Supports United States-Iran Conflict direct use: ATACMS were used by U.S. artillery during Operation Epic Fury to sink multiple Iranian ships, including a submarine. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 U.S. Striking Iranian Navy Ships With Ballistic MissilesPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports United States-Iran Conflict direct use: ATACMS were fired by HIMARS in support of Operation Epic Fury, with reporting on strikes against Iranian naval targets. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 U.S. Army Field Artillery Launches ATACMS in AustraliaPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Army photo of ATACMS launched from HIMARS during Talisman Sabre 2023. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 ATACMSMay2006.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and public-domain licensing for an ATACMS missile launched from an M270 MLRS. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 Atacms 03.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and public-domain licensing for a U.S. Army ATACMS launch image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20