[Shirai_Kuroko]

AGM-114 HELLFIRE


AGM-114 Image A

ORIGIN (Real World):
United States of America

GAMES FEATURED IN:
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon

COMPATIBLE AIRCRAFT:
AH-64D Apache Longbow

OVERIVEW:
The AGM-114 HELLFIRE (HELicopter Launched FIRE and forget) is a missile system designed to defeat enemy armoured units with minimal risks to the launching aircraft. Its development starts in 1974 with requirments from US Army for a "Tank-Buster" weapon that can be launched from Helicopters. The Missile was first operational in 1982 as AGM-114A, whilst the improved variant: Hellfire II entered service in 1990s. The Hellfire has two kinds of guidance-The first three generations uses Laser guidance with active terminal homing whereas the fourth generation (AGM-114L) uses radar guidance.


The AGM-114L, a variant developed specifically for AH-64D (As shown in the game) uses Milimeter Wave Radar, and has active radar guidance. Allowing it to be launched as a fire-and-forget weapon, enabling the crew to take evasive actions once the missile has been launched, thus increasing the chance of survival.

It is proven to be very effective in combat as shown in combat operations over Panama, Balkan, and Iraq. Its small warhead also helps to reduce risks of collateral damage in tight urban environments whilst being able to deal a lethal blow to the enemy tank. It even scored an aerial kill in 2001 when a civilian Cessna 152 was shot down by an Israeli Air Force AH-64A after the plane ignored several warnings from the ATC. Fearing it was a terrorist attack, the helicopter shot the plane down, killing the pilot in the process.

SOURCE:
Wikipedia Article on AGM-114
Global Security Article on AGM-114
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon: The Game Itself