Successful first flight for Lockheed’s new Hellfire II missile

Orlando, USA: Lockheed Martin's new multi-functional AGM-114R Hellfire II missile scored a direct hit during its first proof-of-principle (PoP) flight test recently.  The Hellfire II design features a new multi-purpose warhead that enables a single missile to cover all of the current laser-guided Hellfire II variants.

"The multi-functional Hellfire II missile is one missile for many missions," said Ken Musculus, director of Air-to-Ground Missile Systems Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.  "Its multi-functional warhead enables the AGM-114R to neutralize a broad set of targets previously covered by four different warhead models - everything from armor and air defense systems to patrol boats and enemy combatants in SUVs or caves.  Warfighters won't have to decide ahead of time what they might encounter and load the appropriate combination of missiles; with the multi-functional Hellfire II, they can meet many contingencies with a single missile."

Image: Lockheed Martin

"This new Hellfire II can be fired from both rotary-wing and unmanned platforms," Musculus said.  "A new inertial measurement unit enables properly equipped platforms to launch missiles at targets behind them without first having to turn the aircraft around.  Getting the missile on target that much quicker gives the enemy less time to react or escape."

Musculus said many of the new improvements are software-driven.  "We've replaced a host of circuit boards, transistors and other hardware components with software," he added.  "Turning hardware into software contributes to the modular design of the missile and offers an efficient path to future upgrades."

With more than 25,000 rounds produced for the US and 14 international customers, Hellfire II has been successfully integrated with attack helicopters in the US and many Allied fleets.  It is also capable of surface launch from ground vehicles, tripods and small vessels. 

More than 10,000 Hellfire missiles have been fired in combat.

Headquartered in Bethesda, USA, Lockheed Martin has reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.