TAMPA, Florida — March 1, 2026 : United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on March 1 released declassified footage showing an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launching Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) tactical ballistic missiles at targets inside Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury.
The unclassified video, posted by CENTCOM on X, shows a single HIMARS vehicle conducting a nighttime launch sequence. The launcher pod is elevated before missile departure, with a visible exhaust plume and shockwave as the solid-fuel rocket motor ignites. CENTCOM stated that Iranian leadership had received prior warning and described the strikes as conducted under presidential direction. The command did not disclose the launch location, the specific targets struck in that salvo, or any battle damage assessment results.
Operation Timeline and Objectives
Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, 2026, at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time at the direction of the President of the United States. According to CENTCOM, U.S. and partner forces initiated coordinated strikes aimed at dismantling elements of the Iranian regime’s security apparatus, prioritizing locations assessed as posing imminent threats.
The initial wave targeted facilities and infrastructure associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including command-and-control nodes, Iranian air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields. Precision-guided munitions were delivered from air, land, and sea-based platforms during the opening phase of the campaign.
CENTCOM has characterized the operation as the largest regional concentration of U.S. military firepower in a generation. The broader objective is to degrade Iranian command-and-control networks, air defense assets, and missile and drone infrastructure. The command stated that the campaign is being conducted jointly with partner forces, including coordination with Israel, though specific details regarding individual engagements remain limited.
Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said the operation was ordered by the President and is being executed by U.S. service members across all branches.
Following the initial strikes, Iranian forces launched hundreds of retaliatory missile and drone attacks, according to CENTCOM. U.S. and partner air and missile defense systems intercepted the incoming threats. The command reported no U.S. casualties or combat-related injuries and stated that damage to U.S. installations was minimal and did not affect operational capabilities.
ATACMS System Overview
The ATACMS is a long-range, guided surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile used by the U.S. Army to deliver precision strikes at extended distances. Each missile is housed in a standard Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launch pod compatible with both the M142 HIMARS and the M270 MLRS platforms.
The system uses a Global Positioning System (GPS)-aided inertial navigation system for guidance. The variant described by CENTCOM carries a WDU-18/B 500-pound-class blast fragmentation unitary warhead. The missile has a maximum range of 300 kilometers and is powered by a solid-fuel rocket motor. ATACMS launch pods are externally similar to standard MLRS rocket pods.
Lockheed Martin has produced more than 3,800 ATACMS missiles since the program’s inception. Prior to Operation Epic Fury, more than 600 rounds had been expended in combat operations, according to program data cited by CENTCOM.
In August 2017, the U.S. Army awarded a contract under a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) to modernize 150 ATACMS rounds. The upgrade replaced older cluster-munition payloads with WDU-18/B unitary warheads and extended the storage life of the missiles by at least ten years, in accordance with Department of Defense policy regarding unexploded ordnance and munitions safety.
Strategic Context
The release of the HIMARS launch footage marks a public confirmation of ground-launched deep-strike systems being employed during the early stages of Operation Epic Fury. CENTCOM has stated that the campaign remains ongoing and that additional operational details will be released as appropriate.
The command has not provided specific geographic details regarding HIMARS deployment locations, target coordinates, or post-strike assessments.
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