link to page 1 link to page 1 link to page 1 
Updated November 28, 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 or if any of
(LRPF) by upgrading current artillery and missile systems,
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
The House and Senate Armed Services Committees, in their
Associated Terms, November 2021.
reports on the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act
(NDAA) (H.R. 2670/S. 2226), recommended approving the
Program Status
Army’s SMRF RDT&E and Procurement funding requests.
The House and Senate Appropriations Committees, in their
Reportedly, Lockheed Martin delivered the first of four
reports on the FY2024 DOD Appropriations Act (H.R.
prototype Typhon systems to the Army on December 2,
4365/S. 2587), recommended approving the Army’s SMRF
2022. The Army plans to field its first prototype SMRF
RDT&E and Procurement funding requests.
battery no later than the fourth quarter FY2023.
Potential Issues for Congress
SMRF Test Launches and Full Operational
Capability
Additional SMRF Units
On June 27, 2023, the Army reported:
As previously noted, the Army’s current plans call for
fielding four SMRF batteries starting at the end of FY2023.
The Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical
The Army, however, plans for five MDTFs, with each
Technologies Office's Mid-Range Capability
MDTF having one organic SMRF battery, suggesting that
Project Office, in conjunction with soldiers from 1st
one MDTF might not have an organic SMRF battery. Given
Multi-Domain Task Force, and the U.S. Navy
this potential inconsistency and questions about additional
Program Executive Office Unmanned Aviation and
SMRF batteries, including the possible fielding of SMRF
Strike Weapons, successfully demonstrated the
batteries to the Army National Guard, Congress might seek
launch of a Tomahawk missile from the Army's
to clarify the Army’s long-term requirements for SMRF
prototype Mid-Range Capability system. Soldiers
batteries beyond the four currently planned.
assigned to 1st Multi-Domain Task Force
conducted this live-fire event in which successful
Overseas Stationing of SMRF Units
communications from the Battery Operations
On March 30, 2021, the Chief of Staff of the Army
Center to the Launcher resulted in the launch of a
discussing the LRHW, reportedly noted, “The politics of
Tomahawk missile. This test follows the successful
where they’re based, how they’re based, will be up to the
launch of an SM-6 missile from the Mid-Range
policymakers and the diplomats.” In a similar manner,
Capability system earlier this year, confirming the
overseas basing of SMRF batteries will also be subject to
full operational capability of the system.
political decisions. Given range limitations of Army LRPF
systems, the inability to secure overseas basing rights for
Plans to Deploy SMRF in 2024
these units could limit or negate their effectiveness. On
Reportedly, in November 2023, U.S. Army Pacific
December 1, 2021, the Secretary of the Army reportedly
Commander General Charles Flynn noted:
stated, “the Army is ready, when called upon, to be able to
put those kinds of capabilities in the region. But it’s really
We have tested [Typhon] and we have a battery or
[the State and Defense Departments] that will take the lead
two of them today. In 2024, we intend to deploy that
in those discussions.” Reportedly, in May 2022, the
system in the region. I’m not going to say where and
Secretary of the Army stated the Army did not yet have
when, but I will just say that we will deploy them in
basing agreements for long-range systems but “discussions
the region.
were ongoing” with a number of countries in the Indo-
FY2024 SMRF Budgetary Information
Pacific region. As previously noted, the Army reportedly
plans to deploy SMRF in 2014 in support of U.S. Army
Pacific at undisclosed locations in the Pacific region. Given
Table 1. FY2024 SMRF Budget Request
the importance of basing, Congress might examine ongoing
Funding
Total Request
Total Request
efforts to secure Army long-range precision fires unit
Category
($ Million)
(Qty.)
basing in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.
RDT&E
$31.559
—
Procurement
$169.519
58
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
Sources: RDT&E: Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2024 Budget
Estimates, Army Justification Book 2b of 2, Research, Development,
IF12135
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The U.S. Army’s Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) System (Formerly Mid-Range Capabilities [MRC] System)
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12135 · VERSION 12 · UPDATED