The AGM-114 Hellfire is an air-to-surface missile, developed primarily for anti-armor use. It can be launched from multiple air, sea, and ground platforms. It has multi-mission, and multi-target precision-strike capability. The Hellfire missile is the primary 100 lb-class air-to-ground precision weapon for the armed forces of the United States and many other nations. The HELLFIRE name comes from its original intention as a helicopter-launched fire-and-forget weapon (HELicopter Launched FIRE-and-forget).
The AGM-114 Hellfire is a combat-proven tactical missile system. The missile has been in combat use since the mid-1980s.
| AGM-114 Hellfire | |
|---|---|
| Type | Air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 100–108lb (45.4–49kg) |
| Length | 64 in (163 cm) |
| Diameter | 7 in (17.8 cm) |
| | |
| Warhead | High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT); 20 lb (9 kg) tandem anti-armor Metal augmented charge (MAC); 18 lb (8 kg) shaped-charge Blast Fragmentation |
| | |
| Engine | Solid-fuel rocket |
| Wingspan | 13 in (33 cm) |
| Operational range | 546 yd – 5 mi (500 m – 8 km) |
| Speed | Mach 1.3 (950 mph; 425 m/s) |
| Guidance system | Semi-active laser homing millimeter wave radar seeker |
| Launch platform | Rotary- and fixed-wing platforms, Unmanned combat air vehicles, tripods, ships, and ground vehicles |
Variants
AGM-114A Basic Hellfire
- Target: Tanks, armored vehicles.
- Range: 8,000 m (8,750 yd)
- Guidance: Semi-active laser homing (SALH).
- Warhead: 8 kg (18 lb) shaped charge HEAT.
- Length: 163 cm (64 in)
- Weight: 45 kg (99 lb)
AGM-114B/C Basic Hellfire
- M120E1 low smoke motor.
- AGM-114B has electronic SAD (Safe/Arming Device) for safe shipboard use.
- Unit cost: $25,000
AGM-114D/E Basic Hellfire
- Proposed upgrade of AGM-114B/C with digital autopilot—not built.
AGM-114F Interim Hellfire
- Target: Tanks, armored vehicles.
- Range: 7,000 m (7,650 yd)
- Guidance: Semi-active laser homing.
- Warhead: 9 kg (20 lb) tandem shaped charge HEAT.
- Length: 180 cm (71 in)
- Weight: 48.5 kg (107 lb)
AGM-114G Interim Hellfire
- Proposed version of AGM-114F with SAD—not built.
AGM-114H Interim Hellfire
- Proposed upgrade of AGM-114F with digital autopilot—not built.
AGM-114J Hellfire II
- Proposed version of AGM-114F with lighter components, shorter airframe, and increased range—not built.
AGM-114K Hellfire II
- Target: All armored threats
- Range: 8,000 m (8,749 yd)
- Guidance:
- Semi-active laser homing with Electro-optical countermeasures hardening
- Digital autopilot improvements allow target reacquisition after lost laser lock
- New electronic SAD
- Warhead: 9 kg (20 lb) tandem shaped charge HEAT
- Length: 163 cm (64 in)
- Weight: 45.4 kg (100 lb)
- Unit cost: $65,000
- Essentially the proposed AGM-114J w/ SAD
AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire
- Target: All armored threats
- Range: 8,000 m (8,749 yd)
- Guidance:
- Fire and forget Millimeter wave radar seeker coupled with Inertial guidance
- Homing capability in adverse weather and the presence of battlefield obscurants
- Warhead: 9 kg (20 lb) tandem shaped charge high explosive anti-tank (HEAT)
- Length: 176 cm (69.2 in)
- Weight: 49 kg (108 lb)
AGM-114M Hellfire II
- Target: Bunkers, light vehicles, urban (soft) targets and caves
- Range: 8,000 m (8,749 yd)
- Guidance:
- Semi-active laser homing
- Warhead: Blast fragmentation/incendiary
- Weight: 48.2 kg (106 lb)
- Length: 163 cm (64 in)
AGM-114N Hellfire II
- Target: Enclosures, ships, urban targets, air defense units
- Range: 8,000 m (8,749 yd)
- Guidance:
- Semi-active laser homing
- Warhead: Metal augmented charge (MAC) (Thermobaric)
- Weight: 48 kg (105 lb)
- Length: 163 cm (64 in)
AGM-114P Hellfire II
- Version of AGM-114K optimized for use from UCAVs flying at high altitude.
AGM-114Q Hellfire II
- Practice version of AGM-114N with inert warhead.
AGM-114R Hellfire II
- Version optimized for use from UCAVs (increased engagement envelope)
- Target: Bunkers, light vehicles, urban (soft) targets and caves
- Range: 8,000 m (8,749 yd)
- Guidance:
- Semi-active laser homing
- Warhead: Integrated Blast Frag Sleeve (IBFS) (combine blast fragmentation and fragment dispersion).
- Weight: 50 kg (110 lb)
- Speed : Mach 1.3
AGM-114S Hellfire II
- Practice version of AGM-114K with a spotting charge instead of a warhead.
