Report: US Missile Killed 21 Civilians in Iran

Lockheed Martin's new Precision Strike Missile — sold as the pinpoint ballistic missile of the future — appears to have killed Iranian civilians standing dozens of yards from where it detonated, according to a review by the conflict monitor Airwars reported by the Associated Press.

Three missiles hit the southern Iranian city of Lamerd on Feb. 28, the first day of the Iran war. They killed at least 21 civilians, including seven children, according to Iranian officials.

Airwars found the blasts killed civilians as far as 50 meters (164 feet) from the detonation point and caused damage more than three times farther out. It is the first group to map the damage radius and estimate the weapon's lethal range.

US Central Command has confirmed firing PrSMs into Iran but denies striking Lamerd.

How the Weapon Works

The PrSM is built to replace the Army Tactical Missile System, in service for decades. Lockheed Martin says ATACMS reaches about 300 kilometers (186 miles); the PrSM can hit targets more than 499 kilometers (310 miles) away.

The key difference is what it throws. Where ATACMS shatter into steel fragments or small bomblets over the target, the PrSM is designed to explode in midair and fire tens of thousands of tungsten pellets in every direction, Airwars and weapons experts say.

Tungsten's density and high melting point mean the pellets hold their shape after detonation, making them extremely lethal and able to pierce soft armor, according to defense journals.

Lockheed Martin has never said how wide the missile's effect is. It has released an animated video modeling a PrSM blast. The company did not respond to an AP request for comment.

The Denials Don't Hold Up, Experts Say

Weapons experts told the AP that a missile captured on security camera video in Lamerd does not match the Iranian Hoveyzeh, which has a rounded engine.

The Israeli military told the AP it did not strike anywhere in Iran as far south as Lamerd on the first day of the war, and experts said Israel's military is not known to field missiles that detonate midair.

Six weapons experts, including two former military officials, told the AP they believe PrSMs struck Lamerd and that Israeli or Iranian weapons were unlikely. All said militaries should avoid firing the PrSM at targets near civilian areas.

Asked about the Airwars and AP findings, Central Command repeated its denial, citing an earlier review of what happened.