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Updated December 6, 2022
The U.S. Army’s Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Weapon System
What Is the Army’s Mid-Range
Capability (MRC) Weapon System?
Figure 2. Tomahawk Cruise Missile
Reported improvements to Russian and Chinese artillery
systems present a challenge to the U.S. Army. These
improved, longer-ranged artillery systems, new
employment techniques leveraging unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAV) for target acquisition, and the proliferation
of special munitions (such as precision, thermobaric,
loitering, and top-attack munitions) have renewed concerns
about the potential impact of Russian and Chinese artillery
on U.S. combat operations and ground combat systems. In
response, the U.S. Army is seeking to improve its ability to
deliver what it refers to as long-range precision fires
Source: https://www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com/what-we-
(LRPF) by upgrading current artillery and missile systems,
do/naval-warfare/advanced-strike-weapons/tomahawk-cruise-missile,
developing new longer-ranged cannons and hypersonic
accessed June 14, 2022.
weapons, and modifying existing air- and sea-launched
Note: Tomahawk cruise missiles come in both sea-launched and air-
missiles for ground launch. Army leadership has stated
launched variants.
LRPF is its number one modernization priority.
MRC Weapon System Components
The MRC Weapon System is part of the Army’s LRPF
According to the Army, the prototype MRC battery is
modernization portfolio. It is intended to hit targets at
planned to consist of four launchers and a battery
ranges between the Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)
operations center (BOC). Reportedly, a decision has not
(about 300 miles maximum range) and the developmental
been made on how many missiles each battery will have.
Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) system (about
MRC batteries are to be equipped with a number of prime
1,725 miles maximum range). The MRC Weapon System is
movers, trailers, generators, cabling, and support vehicles.
to leverage existing Raytheon-produced SM-6 missiles
Numbers of soldiers assigned to each battery is presently
(Figure 1) and Raytheon-produced Tomahawk cruise
unknown. The Army plans for the first prototype MRC
missiles (Figure 2), and modify them for ground launch by
battery to be fielded no later than the fourth quarter of
Army units. The MRC system is also known as the
FY2023 and three additional batteries are to be fielded on
“Typhon” missile system.
an annual basis thereafter. It is not clear at this time if the
Army will field more than four MRC batteries and if any of
Figure 1. SM-6 Missile
the batteries will be Army National Guard units.
MRC Unit Organization
The Army plans to field a MRC battery in the Strategic
Fires Battalion of the Army’s regionally aligned Multi-
Domain Task Force (MDTF) (Figure 3).
Source:
https://www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com/news/2016/03/07/sm-6-
anti-surface-warfare, accessed June 14, 2022.
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The U.S. Army’s Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Weapon System
Figure 3. Army Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)
Potential Issues for Congress
Organization
Additional MRC Units
As previously noted, the Army’s current plans call for
fielding four MRC batteries starting at the end of FY2023.
The Army, however, plans for five MDTFs, with each
MDTF having one organic MRC battery, suggesting that
one MDTF might not have an organic MRC battery. Given
this potential inconsistency and questions about additional
MRC batteries, including the possible fielding of MRC
batteries to the Army National Guard, Congress might seek
to clarify the Army’s long-term requirements for MRC
batteries beyond the four currently planned.
Industrial Base Capacity
Currently, Raytheon produces SM-6 missiles and
Tomahawk cruise missiles for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air
Force and foreign militaries. While it is not clear how many
SM-6 and Tomahawk cruise missiles will be required for
Source: Chief of Staff Paper #1 Army Multi-Domain Transformation
the Army’s MRC batteries and theater war stocks, there
Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict, March 16, 2021, p. 12.
could be production considerations for the U.S. defense
industrial base. Given this possibility, Congress might
The Army describes MDTFs as “theater-level maneuver
examine potential MRC-related industrial base capacity
elements designed to synchronize precision effects and
concerns.
precision fires in all domains against adversary anti-access/
area denial (A2/AD) networks in all domains, enabling joint
Overseas Stationing of MRC Units
forces to execute their operational plan (OPLAN)-directed
On March 30, 2021, the Chief of Staff of the Army
roles.”
discussing the LRHW, reportedly noted, “The politics of
where they’re based, how they’re based, will be up to the
policymakers and the diplomats.” In a similar manner,
What Is Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD)?
overseas basing of MRC batteries will also be subject to
Anti-Access (A2) is an action, activity, or capability, usually
political decisions. Given range limitations of Army long-
long-range, designed to prevent an advancing enemy force
range precision fires systems, the inability to secure
from entering an operational area.
overseas basing rights for these units could limit or negate
Area Denial (AD) is an action, activity, or capability, usually
their effectiveness. On December 1, 2021, the Secretary of
short-range, designed to limit an enemy force’s freedom of
the Army reportedly stated, “the Army is ready, when
action within an operational area.
called upon, to be able to put those kinds of capabilities in
Source: Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and
the region. But it’s really [the State and Defense
Associated Terms, November 2021.
Departments] that will take the lead in those discussions.”
Reportedly, in May 2022, the Secretary of the Army stated
the Army did not yet have basing agreements for long-
Program Status
range systems but “discussions were ongoing” with a
Reportedly, Lockheed Martin delivered the first of four
number of countries in the Indo-Pacific region. Given the
prototype Typhoon systems to the Army on December 2,
importance of basing, Congress might examine ongoing
2022.
efforts to secure Army long-range precision fires unit
basing in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.
MRC Budgetary Information
References
Table 1. FY2023 MRC Budget Request
CRS Report R46721, U.S. Army Long-Range Precision
Total
Fires: Background and Issues for Congress, by Andrew
Total Request
Request
Feickert.
Funding Category
($ Million)
(Qty.)
CRS In Focus IF11991, The U.S. Army’s Long-Range
RDT&E
$404.291
—
Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), by Andrew Feickert.
TOTAL
$404.291
—
CRS In Focus IF11797, The Army’s Multi-Domain Task
Force (MDTF), by Andrew Feickert.
Source: Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Estimates,
Army Justification Book 2a of 2, Research, Development, Test &
CRS Report R45996, Precision-Guided Munitions:
Evaluation, Army, RDT&E–Volume II, Budget Activity 4, April 2022,
Background and Issues for Congress, by John R. Hoehn.
p. 677.
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation;
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
Qty. = FY2023 procurement quantities.
IF12135
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The U.S. Army’s Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Weapon System
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12135 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED