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Updated April 6, 2023
The U.S. Army’s Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) System
(Formerly Mid-Range Capabilities [MRC] System)
What Is the Army’s Strategic Mid-Range
Fires (SMRF) 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 employing 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-do/
(LRPF) by upgrading current artillery and missile systems,
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.
launched variants.
Originally known as the Mid-Range Capabilities (MRC)
SMRF Weapon System Components
System, SMRF is part of the Army’s LRPF modernization
According to the Army, the prototype SMRF battery is
portfolio. It is intended to hit targets at ranges between the
planned to consist of four launchers and a battery
Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) (about 300 miles
operations center (BOC). Reportedly, a decision has not
maximum range) and the developmental Long-Range
been made on how many missiles each battery will have.
Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) system (about 1,725 miles
SMRF batteries are to be equipped with a number of prime
maximum range). The SMRF Weapon System is to
movers, trailers, generators, and support vehicles. Numbers
leverage existing Raytheon-produced SM-6 missiles
of soldiers assigned to each battery is presently unknown.
(Figure 1) and Raytheon-produced Tomahawk cruise
The Army plans for the first prototype SMRF battery to be
missiles (Figure 2), and modify them for ground launch by
fielded no later than the fourth quarter of FY2023 and three
Army units. The SMRF system is also known as the
additional batteries are to be fielded on an annual basis
“Typhon” missile system.
thereafter. It is not clear at this time if the Army will field
more than four SMRF batteries and if any of the batteries
Figure 1. SM-6 Missile
will be Army National Guard units.
MRC Unit Organization
The Army plans to field a SMRF 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.
https://crsreports.congress.gov

The U.S. Army’s Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) System (Formerly Mid-Range Capabilities [MRC] System)
Figure 3. Army Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)
Sources: RDT&E: Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2024 Budget
Organization
Estimates, Army Justification Book 2b of 2, Research, Development,
Test & Evaluation, Army, RDT&E–Volume II, Budget Activity 4B,
March 2023, p. 235. Procurement: Department of Defense Fiscal
Year (FY) 2024 Budget Estimates, March 2023, Army Justification
Book Volume 1 of 1 Missile Procurement, p. 83.
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation;
Qty. = FY2024 procurement quantities.
Potential Issues for Congress
Additional SMRF Units
As previously noted, the Army’s current plans call for
fielding four SMRF batteries starting at the end of FY2023.
The Army, however, plans for five MDTFs, with each
MDTF having one organic SMRF battery, suggesting that
one MDTF might not have an organic SMRF battery. Given
this potential inconsistency and questions about additional
SMRF batteries, including the possible fielding of SMRF
batteries to the Army National Guard, Congress might seek
Source: Chief of Staff Paper #1 Army Multi-Domain Transformation
Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict, March 16, 2021, p. 12.
to clarify the Army’s long-term requirements for SMRF
batteries beyond the four currently planned.
Note: MRC Battery depicted above is now known as the SMRF
Battery.
Overseas Stationing of SMRF Units
The Army describes MDTFs as “theater-level maneuver
On March 30, 2021, the Chief of Staff of the Army
elements designed to synchronize precision effects and
discussing the LRHW, reportedly noted, “The politics of
precision fires in all domains against adversary anti-access/
where they’re based, how they’re based, will be up to the
area denial (A2/AD) networks in all domains, enabling joint
policymakers and the diplomats.” In a similar manner,
forces to execute their operational plan (OPLAN)-directed
overseas basing of SMRF batteries will also be subject to
roles.”
political decisions. Given range limitations of Army LRPF
systems, the inability to secure overseas basing rights for
What Is Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD)?
these units could limit or negate their effectiveness. On
Anti-Access (A2) is an action, activity, or capability, usually
December 1, 2021, the Secretary of the Army reportedly
long-range, designed to prevent an advancing enemy force
stated, “the Army is ready, when called upon, to be able to
from entering an operational area.
put those kinds of capabilities in the region. But it’s really
Area Denial (AD) is an action, activity, or capability, usually
[the State and Defense Departments] that will take the lead
short-range, designed to limit an enemy force’s freedom of
in those discussions.” Reportedly, in May 2022, the
action within an operational area.
Secretary of the Army stated the Army did not yet have
Source: Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and
basing agreements for long-range systems but “discussions
Associated Terms, November 2021.
were ongoing” with a number of countries in the Indo-
Pacific region. Given the importance of basing, Congress
Program Status
might examine ongoing efforts to secure Army long-range
precision fires unit basing in both Europe and the Indo-
Reportedly, Lockheed Martin delivered the first of four
Pacific region.
prototype Typhoon systems to the Army on December 2,
2022. The Army plans to field its first prototype SMRC
References
battery no later than the fourth quarter FY2023.
 CRS In Focus IF11991, The U.S. Army’s Long-Range
FY2024 SMRF Budgetary Information
Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), by Andrew Feickert.

Table 1. FY2024 SMRF Budget Request
CRS In Focus IF11797, The Army’s Multi-Domain Task
Force (MDTF), by Andrew Feickert.
Funding
Total Request
Total Request
Category
($ Million)
(Qty.)
RDT&E
$31.559
—
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
Procurement
$169.519
58
IF12135


https://crsreports.congress.gov
The U.S. Army’s Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) System (Formerly Mid-Range Capabilities [MRC] System)


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12135 · VERSION 7 · UPDATED