AGM-114 Hellfire

From Citizendium
Revision as of 15:10, 4 September 2008 by imported>Howard C. Berkowitz (New page: {{subpages}} {{TOC-right}} The U.S. Army-designed '''AGM-114 Hellfire''' missile is an air-to-surface missile used on attack helicopters and [[unmanned aerial vehicle|unmanned ...)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article is developing and not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

Template:TOC-right The U.S. Army-designed AGM-114 Hellfire missile is an air-to-surface missile used on attack helicopters and unmanned combat aerial vehicles. Originally intended as an anti-tank missile, it proved effective against a wide range of helicopter targets. It has also been used against terrorist targets by Central Intelligence Agency-operated MQ-1 Predator UAVs. While most versions are helicopter or UAV launched, the Army is working on a HMMWV launcher.

It has undergone numerous upgrades and variations. [1] Originally intended as a laser-guided antitank weapon for the AH-64 Apache, it started with a maximum range of 8000 m/8750 yd and minimum effective range of approximately 1500 m/1640 yd. The first version had an 8 kg/18 pound shaped-charge warhead

AGM-114 Hellfire production versions
Version User Features
AGM-114A Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter Basic antitank warhead
AGM-114B Navy and Marine AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter SAD (Safing/Arming Device) for safe shipboard use. Thiokol TX-657 (M120E1) reduced-smoke rocket motor as well as some improvements to seeker and autopilot.
AGM-11C Army Thiokol TX-657 (M120E1) reduced-smoke rocket motor as well as some improvements to seeker and autopilot.
AGM-114F "Interim Hellfire" Army Dual warhead to defeat reactive armor; better guidance with slightly reducd range
AGM-114K "Hellfire II" All services; -KBF sold to Sweden Larger warhead; multiple attack flight profiles, fuzing options; range inproved over F model
AGM-114L Army Compatible with AN/APG-78 Longbow millimeter radar or AH-64 Target Acquisition and Designation Sight (TADS)
AGM-114M Navy MH-60R Blast-fragmentation warhead; improved SAD
AGM-114N Navy Thermoparic warhead
AGM-114P CIA and others Optimized for UAV high-altitude firing

References