Development, Test, and Integration of the AGM-114 Hellfire Missile System and FLIR/Laser on the H-60 Aircraft,
Abstract
The Hellfire Missile System (HMS) and a nose-mounted FLIR with laser designator system were selected as integration candidates on H-60 derivatives based on a new fleet weapons requirement. NAWCAD Patuxent River conducted ground and flight tests to structurally qualify the HMS and FLIR systems and evaluate their integration into the H-60 airframe. Three ground firings and 45 hours of flight test (including 6 missile firings and 8 launcher jettisons) were conducted in 1995 during the technical feasibility phase, and 60 test flight hours were flown in 1997 during the system integration phase. In-flight jettison and missile firing test planning utilized a six degree-of-freedom simulation to develop the minimum number of test points to clear the desired envelope while managing risk. Testing demonstrated the successful structural integration of the HMS and FLIR systems. Testing then proceeded with integration of the functional FLIR and HMS. The integration test program fired 6 missiles at fixed and moving targets, under day and night conditions over land and water using the FLIR/LASER for tracking and autonomous designation. Integration development and testing utilized specialized U.S. Army Hellfire instrumentation as well as the Laser Designator Weapons System Simulator (LDWSS) modeling tool. LDWSS was used to simulate launch conditions and engagement scenarios, predict missile launch transients and trajectories, and identify launch constraint and laser self-designation issues. The simulation tools and test methods employed minimized test flights and required assets, resulting in an efficient certification of this weapon system for fleet use.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 15, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA368636
Entities
People
- D. Robert
- R. Capezzuto
Organizations
- Naval Air Warfare Center