AGM-114 Hellfire
IOC: 1983
Total Production: 93,000
AGM-114N Hellfire II
IOC: 2005
Production: 1,000
Origin
United States of America
Contractor/s
Lockheed Martin
Family Members
AGM-114A Hellfire
AGM-114B Hellfire
AGM-114C Hellfire
AGM-114F Hellfire
AGM-114K Hellfire II
AGM-114KA Hellfire II
AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire
AGM-114M Hellfire II
AGM-114R Hellfire II
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Description:
The AGM-114 Hellfire missile was designed to defeat armored vehicles at standoff ranges. The primary US Army platforms carrying this missile are the AH-64 Apache and AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters. However, the Hellfire missile can be launched from other helicopters and airborne platforms. In the latest models, the missile system has expanded its spectrum of targets to take out fortifications and hostile forces protected in urban terrain.
The guidance system of the Hellfire has evolved from the semi-active laser in early models to the last generation millimeter wave guidance. The AGM-114 is a precision guided, subsonic missile with a maximum range of up to 8,000 meters. The Hellfire missile saw combat for the first time during the Gulf War in 1991 (Operation Desert Storm) achieving a great victory over Iraqi armored forces. Since then, the weapon has been deployed in many conflicts by US and allied forces across the world.
The AGM-114M blast fragmentation missile is a derivative of proven semi-active laser AGM-114K Hellfire II retaining all its features excepting the high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) which has been replaced by an advanced blast fragmentation warhead in the M model. The new warhead is capable of penetrating corvettes and small frigates hulls in the presence of severe countermeasures, which makes AGM-114M a superb naval target killer. The delay fuze warhead detonates once the missile has penetrated into ship's hull maximizing blast fragmentation effects.
In addition, AGM-114M can be launched either from air (rotary-wing aircraft), sea or ground platforms making a very versatile weapon system. The weapon system is suitable for use against multiple targets and in adverse weather conditions. To date, Hellfire II M variant has been tested on Kiowa Warrior, Cobra, Apache and Seahawk helicopters, ground platforms and several prototype boats.
The AGM-114K Hellfire features electro-optical countermeasures resistance capability, better performance in presence of obscurants (smoke, dust, water vapor, sea spray), automatic target reacquisition after loss of track in low clouds, and multi-platform launching (helicopter, ground vehicle and patrol boat). Hellfire II is a reprogrammable, shipboard operations enabled and modular missile. The K model also retains the improvements applied to the F model and the optimized tandem warhead.
The US Army awarded Hellfire Buy 11 contract to Lockheed-Martin in April 2005 which included 900 AGM-114N Hellfire II Metal Augmented Charge (MAC) warhead missiles and conversion of 100 AGM-114Ks to the MAC warhead configuration. Deliveries of 1,000 Hellfire II MAC-equipped missiles were expected to be complete in 2007. The MAC warhead is manufactured by ATK. Finally, the US government approved the AGM-114N equipped with the MAC warhead for full rate production in August 2005.
As of 2005, AGM-114N is the latest variant of semi-active laser-guided Hellfire II missile. It saw combat for the first time during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 on the hands of US forces. It was designed specifically to effectively destroy enclosed structures using thermobaric warhead. This translates into taking out the first floor of a building without damaging the floors above, reaching around corners, striking enemy forces that hide in caves or bunkers and hardened multi-room complexes.
Specifications
Dimensions: Diameter 180 mm, Length 1,630 mm
Weights: Max Weight 48 kg (106 lb)
Performance: Max Range 8,000 m (26,247 ft), Min Range 500 m (1,640 ft)
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Greece
United States of America / 1,000