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Updated July 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
SMRF Weapon System Components
Fires (SMRF) System?
According to the Army, the prototype SMRF battery is
Reported improvements to Russian and Chinese artillery
planned to consist of four launchers and a battery
systems present a challenge to the U.S. Army. These
operations center (BOC) (Figure 1). Reportedly, a decision
improved, longer-ranged artillery systems, new
has not been made on how many missiles each battery will
employment techniques employing unmanned aerial
have. SMRF batteries are to be equipped with a number of
vehicles (UAV) for target acquisition, and the proliferation
prime movers, trailers, generators, and support vehicles.
of special munitions (such as precision, thermobaric,
Numbers of soldiers assigned to each battery is presently
loitering, and top-attack munitions) have renewed concerns
unknown. The Army plans for the first prototype SMRF
about the potential impact of Russian and Chinese artillery
battery to be fielded no later than the fourth quarter of
on U.S. combat operations and ground combat systems. In
FY2023 and three additional batteries are to be fielded on
response, the U.S. Army is seeking to improve its ability to
an annual basis thereafter. It is not clear at this time if the
deliver what it refers to as long-range precision fires
Army will field more than four SMRF batteries and if any
(LRPF) by upgrading current artillery and missile systems,
of the batteries will be Army National Guard units.
developing new longer-ranged cannons and hypersonic
weapons, and modifying existing air- and sea-launched
MRC Unit Organization
missiles for ground launch.
The Army plans to field a SMRF battery in the Strategic
Fires Battalion of the Army’s regionally aligned Multi-
Originally known as the Mid-Range Capabilities (MRC)
Domain Task Force (MDTF) (Figure 2).
System, SMRF is part of the Army’s LRPF modernization
portfolio. It is intended to hit targets at ranges between the
Figure 2. Army Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)
Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) (about 300 miles
Organization
maximum range) and the developmental Long-Range
Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) system (about 1,725 miles
maximum range). The SMRF Weapon System leverages
existing Raytheon-produced SM-6 missiles and Raytheon-
produced Tomahawk cruise missiles and modifies them for
ground launch. The SMRF system is also known as the
“Typhon” missile system (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Typhon Launchers and Battery
Operations Center
Source: Chief of Staff Paper #1 Army Multi-Domain Transformation
Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict, March 16, 2021, p. 12.
Note: MRC Battery depicted above is now known as the SMRF
Battery.
The Army describes MDTFs as “theater-level maneuver
Source: The Drive: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/army-
elements designed to synchronize precision effects and
fires-tomahawk-missile-from-its-new-typhon-battery-in-major-
precision fires in all domains against adversary anti-access/
milestone, accessed July 6, 2023.
area denial (A2/AD) networks in all domains, enabling joint
forces to execute their operational plan (OPLAN)-directed
roles.”
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The U.S. Army’s Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) System (Formerly Mid-Range Capabilities [MRC] System)
Test & Evaluation, Army, RDT&E–Volume II, Budget Activity 4B,
What Is Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD)?
March 2023, p. 235. Procurement: Department of Defense Fiscal
Anti-Access (A2) is an action, activity, or capability, usually
Year (FY) 2024 Budget Estimates, March 2023, Army Justification
long-range, designed to prevent an advancing enemy force
Book Volume 1 of 1 Missile Procurement, p. 83.
from entering an operational area.
Area Denial (AD) is an action, activity, or capability, usually
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation;
short-range, designed to limit an enemy force’s freedom of
Qty. = FY2024 procurement quantities.
action within an operational area.
Source: Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and
Potential Issues for Congress
Associated Terms, November 2021.
Additional SMRF Units
As previously noted, the Army’s current plans call for
Program Status
fielding four SMRF batteries starting at the end of FY2023.
Reportedly, Lockheed Martin delivered the first of four
The Army, however, plans for five MDTFs, with each
prototype Typhoon systems to the Army on December 2,
MDTF having one organic SMRF battery, suggesting that
2022. The Army plans to field its first prototype SMRF
one MDTF might not have an organic SMRF battery. Given
battery no later than the fourth quarter FY2023.
this potential inconsistency and questions about additional
SMRF batteries, including the possible fielding of SMRF
SMRF Test Launches and Full Operational
batteries to the Army National Guard, Congress might seek
Capability
to clarify the Army’s long-term requirements for SMRF
On June 27, 2023, the Army reported:
batteries beyond the four currently planned.
The Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical
Overseas Stationing of SMRF Units
Technologies Office's Mid-Range Capability
On March 30, 2021, the Chief of Staff of the Army
Project Office, in conjunction with soldiers from 1st
discussing the LRHW, reportedly noted, “The politics of
Multi-Domain Task Force, and the U.S. Navy
where they’re based, how they’re based, will be up to the
Program Executive Office Unmanned Aviation and
policymakers and the diplomats.” In a similar manner,
Strike Weapons, successfully demonstrated the
overseas basing of SMRF batteries will also be subject to
launch of a Tomahawk missile from the Army's
political decisions. Given range limitations of Army LRPF
prototype Mid-Range Capability system. Soldiers
systems, the inability to secure overseas basing rights for
assigned to 1st Multi-Domain Task Force
these units could limit or negate their effectiveness. On
conducted this live-fire event in which successful
December 1, 2021, the Secretary of the Army reportedly
communications from the Battery Operations
stated, “the Army is ready, when called upon, to be able to
Center to the Launcher resulted in the launch of a
put those kinds of capabilities in the region. But it’s really
Tomahawk missile. This test follows the successful
[the State and Defense Departments] that will take the lead
launch of an SM-6 missile from the Mid-Range
in those discussions.” Reportedly, in May 2022, the
Capability system earlier this year, confirming the
Secretary of the Army stated the Army did not yet have
full operational capability of the system.
basing agreements for long-range systems but “discussions
were ongoing” with a number of countries in the Indo-
FY2024 SMRF Budgetary Information
Pacific region. Given the importance of basing, Congress
might examine ongoing efforts to secure Army long-range
Table 1. FY2024 SMRF Budget Request
precision fires unit basing in both Europe and the Indo-
Funding
Total Request
Total Request
Pacific region.
Category
($ Million)
(Qty.)
RDT&E
$31.559
—
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
Procurement
$169.519
58
Sources: RDT&E: Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2024 Budget
IF12135
Estimates, Army Justification Book 2b of 2, Research, Development,
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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 11 · UPDATED