An investigation by Airwars and the Associated Press has examined the impact of Lockheed Martin's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) during strikes in Lamerd, Iran . The findings suggest the weapon's midair detonation pattern poses significant risks to nearby residents in populated zones.
The 50-meter lethal zone in Lamerd
The city of Lamerd in southern Iran became the site of significant civilian loss during strikes on February 28, 2026. According to Airwars, the missiles killed civilians as close as 50 meters from the detonation points and caused structural damage at a distance three times greater than that radius. Using geolocation software and satellite imagery, the nonprofit organization mapped the aftermath of the projectiles, which detonated above residential neighborhoods and a sports complex.
Iranian officials reported that at least 21 civilians, including seven children, were killed in the blasts. as the Associated Press reported , the investigation verified these casualties by measuring the distance between the reported deaths and the midair detonation points captured on security camera footage.. The scale of the damage highlights the unpredictable nature of high-velocity fragmentation in urban environments.
Lockheed Martin’s midair pellet detonation mechanism
Lockheed Martin's Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM, is a high-tech ballistic system designed to detonate midair and scatter tens of thousands of dense metal pellets in all directions. while the U.S. military has invested billions of dollars to modernize its arsenal with this "missile of the future," the weapon's fragmentation pattern creates a massive footprint. This design is intended for precision, yet it presents extreme challenges when deployed near civilian populations.
Military experts have voiced concerns regarding the suitability of the PrSM for populated areas. Michael Meier, a former U.S. army adviser on the laws of war, stated that it would be difficult to find a legal justification for using the PrSM in a densely populated zone. Despite these concerns, the system remains a central component of the U.S. military's long-range strike capabilities.
U.S. Central Command’s Hoveyzeh cruise missile theory
U.S. Central Command has disputed the use of the PrSM in the Lamerd strikes, suggesting instead that an Iranian Hoveyzeh cruise missile may have been responsible. While a U.S. spokesperson denied that American forces launched PrSMs into Lamerd on February 28, an image released by Central Command on March 1 showed a PrSM being fired during the broader Iran operation. This has led to conflicting narratives between official statements and visual evidence.
Weapons experts have countered the U.S . theory, noting that the missile visible in security footage from Lamerd does not match the Iranian model. specifically, experts pointed out that the Hoveyzeh cruise missile features a rounded engine, a characteristic absent from the projectile seen in the Lamerd footage. additionally, the Israeli military has stated it did not conduct strikes as far south as Lamerd during the initial phase of the conflict.
The mystery of the unhit IRGC compound
The presence of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compound near the strike zone has raised questions about the original intent of the mission. Although the compound is located in the vicinity of the Lamerd strikes, satellite imagery reviewed by analysts showed no damage to the facility. This lack of impact on a high-value military target suggests the missiles may have missed their intended mark or were aimed elsewhere.
Several critical questions remain unanswered following the investigation. It is still unclear what specific target the strikes in Lamerd were intended to hit, and Lockheed Martin has not publicly disclosed the full extent of the missile's impact zone. Furthermore, because the source of the missiles remains a point of contention between U.S. officials and weapons experts, the question of ultimate accountability for the 21 civilian deaths remains unresolved.
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