Ballistic Missile
MGM-140 ATACMS
The MGM-140 ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) is a US short-range ballistic missile made by Lockheed Martin and fired from M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS launchers. With a range of up to 300 km, it has been used since the 1991 Gulf War and became a key Ukrainian long-range weapon from 2023.
United States|Lockheed MartinOverview
Development began in the early 1980s, and about 30 missiles were fired in Desert Storm. ATACMS is packed in a pod resembling a rocket pod, two per M270 and one per HIMARS. The 3.98 m solid-fuel missile weighs 1,321–1,673 kg depending on version and flies a manoeuvring quasi-ballistic path at around Mach 3. Block I carries about 950 bomblets to 165 km, Block IA adds GPS and a 300 km range, and the M48/M57 unitary versions carry a 500-lb-class warhead.
Several thousand were built, and a service-life extension programme continues while the PrSM, in US Army service since late 2023, takes over. Operators include the US, South Korea, Greece, Türkiye, Bahrain, the UAE, Romania, Poland, Taiwan and Ukraine. Ukraine first used ATACMS on 17 October 2023 against Russian airfields and struck inside Russia in November 2024; press reports suggest it received about 500. In July 2026 Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall signed an MoU for co-production in Germany.
Key Specifications
Variants
The original inertially guided version, carrying about 950 M74 bomblets to a range of about 165 km.
Adds GPS guidance and extends range to about 300 km, carrying about 300 M74 bomblets.
M48 and M57 versions with a single 500-lb-class blast-fragmentation warhead and a range of about 270–300 km.
Operators
United States
South Korea
Greece
Türkiye
Bahrain
UAE
Romania
Poland
Taiwan
UkraineFrequently Asked Questions
How much does an ATACMS missile cost?
An ATACMS M57 costs about $1.7 million per missile, according to a reported FY2021 figure. Later contract prices vary, and costs differ for older missiles refurbished under the service-life extension programme.
What is the range of ATACMS?
ATACMS has a maximum range of about 300 km in the Block IA and unitary versions. The original Block I reaches about 165 km, and the M48/M57 unitary missiles about 270–300 km.
ATACMS vs Iskander: which is better?
Iskander-M, the closest Russian counterpart, has a longer reported range of up to about 500 km and a heavier warhead, while ATACMS is lighter and fits standard MLRS and HIMARS pods. Both fly manoeuvring quasi-ballistic trajectories that are hard to intercept.
How many ATACMS did Ukraine get?
Ukraine received roughly 500 ATACMS, according to press reports, and its stocks were reported to be heavily depleted by 2025. These figures come from media reporting rather than an official breakdown of deliveries.
What is the difference between HIMARS and ATACMS?
HIMARS is the launcher and ATACMS is the missile. A HIMARS truck carries one ATACMS, while the tracked M270 MLRS carries two; both launchers also fire GMLRS guided rockets.
Does Türkiye have ATACMS?
Yes, Türkiye operates ATACMS with its M270 MLRS launchers. Its domestic counterparts are ROKETSAN’s BORA, exported as KHAN, and the TAYFUN short-range ballistic missile, both developed in Türkiye.