Air Weapons: Hellfire Gets Better Eyesight

Archives

December 17, 2008: There is a new laser seeking warhead for Hellfire missiles, which has made more difficult shots possible, and increased the overall success of missiles fired to over 90 percent. The change is simply making the sensor able to spot the reflected laser light within a 180 degree arc, rather than 40 degrees as before. Not easy, from a technical point of view, but it's a technique that has worked well in other missile types.

The way hellfire missiles work, you have someone (in the air or on the ground using a laser designator) shine a laser light (think of a tiny, long range, laser spotlight) on the target. The invisible light bounces off the target, providing a target for the laser seeker in the front of the Hellfire missile. Thus you have to fire the missile in the direction of the "illuminated" target, and hope that the seeker picks up the reflected light. The homing part is easy. Getting the rapidly moving missile to where its sensor can pick up the reflected laser light, can be tricky. The new "P" model of the Hellfire laser seeker obviously makes it easier for all this to happen. This will allow for Hellfires to be fired from higher altitudes, and even when the aircraft has passed the target area. Users have already reported increased success because of the new seeker.

 

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close