AGM-114 Hellfire
The AGM-114 Hellfire is an American air-to-surface missile (ASM) first developed for anti-armor use, later developed for precision drone strikes against other target types, especially high-value targets. It was originally developed under the name "Heliborne laser, fire-and-forget missile", which led to the colloquial name "Hellfire" ultimately becoming the missile's formal name. It has a multi-mission, multi-target precision-strike ability and can be launched from multiple air, sea, and ground platforms, including the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. The Hellfire missile is the primary 100-pound (45 kg) class air-to-ground precision weapon for the armed forces of the United States and many other nations. It has also been fielded on surface platforms in the surface-to-surface and surface-to-air roles.
| AGM-114 Hellfire | |
|---|---|
A model of Longbow Hellfire's components | |
| Type | Air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1984–present |
| Wars | 1991 Gulf War War on Terror Russian Invasion of Ukraine |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin, Boeing (prior second source), and Northrop Grumman (seeker only for AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire) |
| Unit cost | US$150,000
(FY 2021) US$117,000 (FY2017) |
| Produced | 1974–present |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 100–108 lb (45–49 kg) |
| Length | 64 in (1.6 m) |
| Diameter | 7 in (180 mm) |
| Wingspan | 13 in (0.33 m) |
| Warhead |
|
| Engine | Thiokol TX-657 Solid-fuel rocket |
| Propellant | APC/HTPB |
Operational range | 550 to 12,030 yd (0.5 to 11 km) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 1.3 (995 mph; 1,601 km/h) |
Guidance system | |
Launch platform | Rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, unmanned combat aerial vehicles, tripods, ships, ground vehicles |