Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm: Observations on the Performance of the Army's Hellfire Missile
Abstract
The Hellfire missile system is the main armament on the Army's Apache helicopter and the Marine Corps' Cobra helicopter. It is designed to defeat stationary or moving tanks from as far away as 6,500 meters with minimal exposure of the helicopter to enemy fire. The missile is guided by laser energy reflected from a target that has been illuminated by ground observers, the attack helicopter, or other helicopters. Upon striking the target, the missile's high-explosive charge produces a high velocity jet of molten metal to penetrate the tank. The Army fielded the basic Hellfire missile system in 1985. In 1990, the Army began procuring an improved version of the missile-called the interim improved Hellfire missile-which is designed to defeat more formidable tanks that the basic missile. During Operation Desert Storm, the Army used basic Hellfire and did not encounter the more formidable tanks.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA251799
Entities
People
- Henry L. Hinton
- John L. Grant
- John M. Ortiz
- Raymond Dunham
- Thomas W. Gilliam
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office