Munitions / Air to surface missiles / AGM-114 Hellfire
AGM-114 Hellfire
General Facts
- TYPE
Air to ground missile - ORIGIN
United States
- NICKNAMES
RBS-17 (Swedish service) - DESIGNED
1974 - 1981 - DESIGNER
Rockwell & Martin Marietta - PRODUCTION
1982 - present - PRODUCERS
United States - Lockheed Martin
- QUANTITY
Over 60.000 missiles produced. - UNIT COST
$ 25.000 for AGM-114B
$ 65.000 for AGM-114K - CHARACTERISTICS
Powerful warhead
Long effective range
Good accuracy
Limited size and weight
Introduction
The AGM-114 Hellfire is an anti-tank missile of US origin. It was developed by Lockheed Martin in the late 1970s to replace the TOW as the primary helicopter launched anti-tank missile. The name Hellfire stands for HELicopter Launched FIRE-and-forget. Compared to the TOW the Hellfire has a longer range, a higher velocity, a much more powerful warhead and better accuracy.
Design
The Hellfire is a relatively short and thick missile with four small fixed wings at the front and four longer fixed wings with small control vanes at the rear. The layout is conventional with the guidance section at the front, the warhead in the middle and the solid fuel rocket motor at the rear. Except for the millimeter wave seeker on the AGM-114L all Hellfire are semi-active laser guided.
Firepower
The Hellfire is a very capable anti-tank missile that will destroy any armored target. Penetration is believed to be around 1.000 mm RHA for the AGM-114K with tandem shaped HEAT warhead. A variety of warheads for use against soft targets have been developed as well. The 7 to 9 km range provides a standoff range against most anti-aircraft guns and MANPADS. Accuracy has proven to be very good.
Platform
The Hellfire was originally intended to be launched from helicopters such as the AH-64 Apache, AH-1 Super Cobra, A-129 Mangusta, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, RAH-66 Commanche and various others. Fixed wing platforms include the Cessna 208, Super King Air, KC-130 and various drones such as the MQ-1B Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. Other applications include a single rail tripod mounted coastal defense system and the Combat Boat 90 assault craft.
Users
The main user of the Hellfire is the US military and many Hellfires have been effectively used in a variety of conflicts since the 1980s. The Hellfire has been exported to various Western nations and other nations with close ties to the USA.
Hellfire anti-tank missile
AGM-114A Basic Hellfire: Original Hellfire with HEAT warhead, semi-active laser homing and rocket motor that produced a smoke trail.
AGM-114B/C Basic Hellfire: The AGM-14 C is an AGM-114A with low smoke motor. The AGM-114B add a safe and arming device for naval use.
AGM-114F Interim Hellfire: An AGM-114C with heavier tandem HEAT warhead and reduced effective range of 7 km. Entered production in 1991.
RBS-17: Swedish coastal defense version of AGM-114A. Has a blast fragmentation warhead.
Type | Anti-tank missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 0.178 m body, 0.33 m wingspan |
Length | 1.63 m |
Weight | 45.7 kg |
Guidance | Semi-active laser guidance |
---|---|
Warhead | 8 kg HEAT warhead, impact fuze |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | ? |
Range | 1.5 km minimum, 8 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Anti-tank missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 0.178 m body, 0.33 m wingspan |
Length | 1.8 m |
Weight | 48.6 kg |
Guidance | Semi-active laser guidance |
---|---|
Warhead | Tandem HEAT warhead, impact fuze |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | ? |
Range | 1.5 km minimum, 8 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Hellfire II anti-tank missile
AGM-114K Hellfire II: Lighter AGM-114F with shorter airframe, 8 km range and electronic safe and arming device. Uses the AGM-114F tandem HEAT warhead for use against armored targets.
AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire: AGM-114K with millimeter wave radar seeker for use with the AH-64D Apache Longbow millimeter wave radar. Produced since 1997.
AGM-114P Hellfire II: AGM-114K optimized for use from drones flying at high altitude.
AGM-114S Hellfire II: Practice version of AGM-114K with spotting charge instead of a warhead.
Type | Anti-tank missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 0.178 m body, 0.33 m wingspan |
Length | 1.63 m |
Weight | 45.7 kg |
Guidance | Semi-active laser guidance |
---|---|
Warhead | HEAT warhead, impact fuze |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | ? |
Range | 0.5 km minimum, 9 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Anti-tank missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 0.178 m body, 0.33 m wingspan |
Length | 1.78 m |
Weight | 50 kg |
Guidance | Inertial and MMW radar guidance |
---|---|
Warhead | Tandem HEAT warhead, impact fuze |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | ? |
Range | 0.5 km minimum, 9 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Hellfire II soft target missile
AGM-114M Hellfire II: AGM-114K with incendiary blast fragmentation warhead for use against bunkers, light vehicles and fortified positions. Used in the year 2000.
AGM-114N Hellfire II: AGM-114K with metal augmented charge (thermobaric) warhead for use against buildings and air defense units.
AGM-114Q Hellfire II: Practice version of AGM-114N with inert warhead.
AGM-114R Hellfire II: AGM-114P with integrated blast frag sleeve warhead for use against armored vehicles, bunkers, light vehicles and fortified positions.
Type | Anti-tank missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 0.178 m body, 0.33 m wingspan |
Length | 1.63 m |
Weight | 48 kg |
Guidance | Semi-active laser guidance |
---|---|
Warhead | 12.5 kg HE-frag warhead |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | ? |
Range | 0.5 km minimum, 9 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Anti-tank missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 0.178 m body, 0.33 m wingspan |
Length | 1.63 m |
Weight | 48 kg |
Guidance | Semi-active laser guidance |
---|---|
Warhead | Thermobaric warhead |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | ? |
Range | 0.5 km minimum, 9 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |