Some Info on Mavs/Hellfires.

[Sewter]

I sometimes get curious to the different warheads of rockets/missles. Particularly the anti-tank weapons air-launched. Two specific US weapons have come to mind, the Hellfire and the Maverick. (Interesting fact, the USMC have fired the Maverick from the AH-1W) I looked up the weapons on Janes. This is for those who like to modify their MOBs, as it could be some useful info. Here is what I found:

The Hellfire:

AGM-114 A/B/C

Warhead: 8kg HE Shaped Charge
Guidance: Semi-active laser
Range: 8km

Note: AGM-114B designed for USMC with low smoke

AGM-114F

Warhead: 8kg Tandem HEAT
Guidance: Semi-active laser
Range: 8km

AGM-114K/M (Hellfire 2)

Warhead: 8kg HE shaped Charge(K)
12.5kg HE blast/frag (M)
Guidance: Semi-active laser
Range: 9km

Note: AGM-114K is Anti-Ship.

AGM-114L (Longbow Hellfire 2)

Warhead: 8kg Tandem HEAT
Guidance: Inertial and MMW radar
Range: 9km

Note: Over 10,000 AGM-114L missiles have been ordered by the US Army. The first trial firing of an active MMW radar-guided AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire 2 missile was carried out in early 1994, this version was developed for the AH-64D Longbow Apache helicopter. Low rate initial production was authorised in December 1995 and the Longbow Hellfire 2 entered service in 1998.

Further of the Hellfire:

The latest version of the Hellfire to be fielded is the AGM-114N, fitted with a new thermobaric warhead. This warhead is now officially described as the Metal Augmented Charge (MAC). The AGM-114N was developed for the Marine Corps as a speedy advanced concept technology demonstration programme following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. About 60 test rounds were available when the US-led invasion of Iraq occurred in 2003. These weapons were quickly flown into the theatre and were used in combat by US Marine Corps AH-1W SuperCobras.

The Maverick (AKA: Pete Mitchel)

AGM-65 A/B

Warhead: 57kg HE Shaped Charge
Guidance: TV
Range: 3km

AGM-65D

Warhead: 57kg HE Shaped Charge
Guidance: IIR
Range: 20km

AGM-65E

Warhead: 136kg Blast Penetrator
Guidance: Semi-active laser
Range: 20km

AGM-65 F/G/K/J

Warhead: 136kg Blast Penetrator
Guidance: IIR (F/G) TV (K/J)
Range: 25km

AGM-65H
Warhead: 57kg HE Shaped Charge
Guidance: TV
Range: 6km

More on the Maverick:

AGM-65A/B: TV-guided versions developed by USAF, with 57 kg HE shaped charge warhead. The B version has improved optics to magnify the target scene, enabling the pilot to locate the target and lock the missile to it at a greater range. Tracker logic steers the missile to the centroid of the target. The missiles have a launch weight of 210 kg, and maximum range is 3 km.

AGM-65D: IIR guidance version developed for the USAF to give day, night and bad weather capability. The range of the missile was increased to 20 km, and the imaging IR seeker selected to cope better with battlefield smoke. The missile weighs 220 kg. The digital centroid seeker guides the missile to the centre of the target, rather than simply to the point of the greatest temperature differential. The D version has the same 57 kg warhead as the A/B versions, but introduced a new lower smoke motor.

AGM-65E: A semi-active laser-guided version developed for the US Marine Corps, specifically to enable Maverick to be used on targets near to friendly forces. This version was the first to introduce the new 136 kg HE blast penetrating warhead with selectable fuzing delays to attack ships and hardened bunkers with optimum effect. With the laser-guidance, the pilot does not have to identify the target visually before firing the missile. The missile weighs 293 kg, and the maximum range is 20 km. The maximum range is achieved from medium altitude (10 km), and is reduced to around 12 km with a low-altitude launch.

AGM-65F: Developed for the USN, this version has the same IIR seeker as the D version, but with the image processing tuned specifically for effectiveness against ship targets. The F version has the larger 136 kg blast penetrating warhead and a selectable delay fuze. The missiles weigh 307 kg, have a minimum range of 2 km, and a maximum range increased to 25 km.

AGM-65G: Developed for the USAF to provide an improved capability over the D version for attacking a wide variety of targets. The IIR seeker is similar to that in the D version but has software changes to improve the performance against larger targets, with the pilot able to select a specific aim point within a large target complex. AGM-65G has also retained its capability against tanks and uses the larger 136 kg blast penetrating warhead. Certain value engineering improvements have been made to reduce production costs. The missile weighs 307 kg, has a minimum range of 2 km, and a maximum range of 25 km. A modified version, designated AGM-65G2, was developed to improve the accuracy against small vehicle targets, to help in short-range and low-altitude engagements.

AGM-65H: A new CCD TV seeker has been developed for the USAF. The CCD TV provides greater range in reduced visibility, giving improved resolution and magnification together with two selectable fields of view. This has a new motor. The range is 6 km for lock before launch, but might be greater if target acquisition is made after launch. It is expected that some older AGM-65A and -65B missiles will have their seeker assemblies upgraded to this new standard. The AGM-65H has the smaller 57 kg warhead, and a weight reduced to 210 kg.

AGM-65J: This is a heavier missile developed for the USMC. It has the new CCD TV seeker, the 136 kg HE blast penetrating warhead, and a maximum range of 25 km.

AGM-65K: This is a USAF version of the AGM-65J, using the improved CCD TV seeker and the heavier 136 kg warhead. The minimum range is 2 km, and the maximum range is 25 km from medium altitude (10 km). The maximum range from a low-level launch is around 12 km.

'Longhorn' has been proposed to include a turbofan engine in a lengthened AGM-65F airframe. This version would be 3.35 m long and could have a range of about 75 km. Mid-course guidance would be inertial with GPS, while IIR or active MMW radar terminal seekers could be used.

I found the ranges of the weapons interesting. This could add some flavor flav to the A-10's stand-off, and the use of the AH-1W assaults (I am a USMC fan). Cool!