March 31, 2022
DESCRIPTION
The AGM-114 HELLFIRE Family of Missiles includes the HELLFIRE II and Longbow HELLFIRE Missiles. HELLFIRE II is a precision strike, Semi-Active Laser (SAL)-guided missile and is the principal air-to-ground weapon for the Army AH-64 Apache, MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), Special Operations aircraft, Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra, and Air Force Predator and Reaper UAS.
The SAL HELLFIRE II missile is guided by laser energy reflected off the target. It has three warhead variants: a dual-warhead, shaped-charge, high-explosive anti-tank capability for armored targets (AGM-114K); a blast fragmentation warhead for urban, patrol boat, and other “soft” targets (AGM-114M); and a metal-augmented charge warhead (AGM-114N) for urban structures, bunkers, radar sites, communications installations, and bridges.
Beginning in 2012, a HELLFIRE II multipurpose warhead variant (AGM-114R) became available to the Warfighter and allows for selection of warhead effects corresponding to a specific target type. The AMG-114R took the place of the K/M/N warhead capability and can be launched from Army rotary-wing and UAS platforms. It also provides the pilot with increased operational flexibility.
The Longbow HELLFIRE (AGM-114L) is a precision strike missile using Millimeter Wave (MMW) radar guidance instead of the HELLFIRE II’s SAL. It is the principal anti-tank system for the AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter and uses the same anti-armor warhead as the HELLFIRE II. The MMW seeker provides beyond-line-of-sight, fire-and-forget capability, as well as the ability to operate in adverse weather and battlefield obscurants.
BENEFIT TO THE SOLDIER
HELLFIRE provides the Warfighter with an air-to-ground, point-target precision strike capability to defeat advanced armor and an array of traditional and nontraditional targets.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Diameter: 7 inches
- Weight: 99.8-107 pounds
- Length: 64-69 inches
- HELLFIRE II AGM-114R maximum range:
- Direct fire: 7.1 km
- Indirect fire: 8 km
- Minimum range: 0.5-1.5 km
PROGRAM STATUS
- FY16–FY18: HELLFIRE II missiles procured annually to replace combat expenditures
- FY18-FY20: K, M, and N Models are no longer in Production
PROJECTED ACTIVITIES
FY21–FY25:
- Laser HELLFIRE to continue in Production
- Longbow HELLFIRE to continue Sustainment activities
