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MGM-140 ATACMS facts for kids

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MGM-140 ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System)
ATACMSMay2006 (cropped).jpg
An ATACMS being launched by an M270
Type Rocket artillery
Tactical ballistic missile
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1991–present
Used by
  • United States
  • South Korea
  • Romania
  • Greece
  • Turkey
  • Poland
  • Ukraine
Wars
Production history
Designer Ling-Temco-Vought
Designed 1986
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin
Unit cost $820,000 (FY1998) (or ~$1,476,000 FY2022)
No. built 3,700
Specifications
Mass 3,690 pounds (1,670 kg)
Length 13 feet (4.0 m)
Diameter 24 inches (610 mm)

Maximum firing range 190 mi (300 km)

Wingspan 55 inches (1.4 m)
Flight ceiling 160,000 ft (50 km)
Maximum speed In excess of Mach 3 (0.6 mi/s; 1.0 km/s)
Guidance
system
GPS-aided inertial navigation guidance
Launch
platform
M270, HIMARS

The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS; pronounced /əˈtækəms/) is a tactical ballistic missile manufactured by the US defense company Lockheed Martin. It uses solid propellant, is 13 feet (4.0 m) high and 24 inches (610 mm) in diameter, and the longest range variants can fly up to 190 miles (300 km). The missiles can be fired from the tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and the wheeled M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

An ATACMS launch container has a lid patterned with six circles like a standard MLRS rocket lid, but contains only one missile – the identical pattern makes it more challenging for enemy intelligence to single it out as a high-value target.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: MGM-140 ATACMS para niños

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