Air Power Analysis: AGM-114 Hellfire

The AGM-114 Hellfire missile can trace its origins to the Advanced Attach Helicopter program which resulted in the AH-64 Apache. The goal of this competition was to develop a dedicated tank-killing helicopter for the Army, one which would be able to deal with the waves of Soviet armour that would dominate Europe should war erupt. Originally, the AAH program dictated that the TOW (Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-guided) missile would be the principle anti-armour weapon. This missile, with a range of just over 2km was guided by electrical signals transmitted to the weapon via a thin wire that was unspooled behind the missile in flight. By keeping the target in the crosshairs, the gunner was able to direct the missile onto target. The wire had the advantage of being invulnerable to electronic jamming; however, it did restrict the range of the weapon. With the advent of man-portable surface-to-air missiles, the short range of the TOW would be unsatisfactory.

However, a new technology originally developed by Texas Instruments during the Vietnam War was opening up an entirely new world in missile guidance technology: laser-guided weapons. Soon after the AAH finalists had been selected, the focus on TOW had switched to a new weapon which reflected the emerging guidance technology: the AGM-114 Hellfire (HELicopter-Launched FIRE-and-forget missile). The design revolved around a seeker, which would home in on laser radiation reflecting from the surface of a target. The source of the laser could be either from the launch-helicopter itself, or via a separate laser designator from another helicopter or a soldier in the field.

The Hellfire simply offered a weapon of greater range and flexibility than the proven TOW missile. Though a design risk, the success of other laser-guided weapons during the Vietnam War certainly helped its cause. Its success was amply demonstrated during Desert Storm as television audiences all over the world were treated to video footage of countless Hellfires destroying numerous vehicles. The success of this missile also helped to ensure the success of the AH-64 Apache as well._