OH-58D Kiowa Warrior

ATAS AND HELLFIRE MISSILE SUBSYSTEMS

Umbilical Weapon Harnesses (Weapons Electrical Cables)

AIR-TO-AIR STINGER (ATAS) WEAPON SUBSYSTEM *

* U.S. Army AMCOM system. Theoretically part of the armament subsystem through integration components.

The ATAS is an airborne, Infrared (IR) guided, anti-aircraft missile system. The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is capable of carrying two ATAS missiles on each side. The system uses passive IR detection to acquire aerial targets. The system is integrated into the Control Display Unit to allow the missiles to be aimed and fired at long range targets via the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS) optics target acquisition and additional MMS-based steering indications displayed on the Multifunction Display. The Pilot Display Unit (PDU) is used to perform built-in-test (BIT) of the system, and acquire and/or track targets for lock-on.
AGM-1148 Air-to-Air Stinger anti-aircraft Missile

The Air-to-Air Stringer missile system consists of an Interface Electronic Assembly, an Electronic Unit, and a M272 or M279 guided missile launcher. The Interface Electronic Assembly and Electronic Unit are located in the avionics compartment. Electronic signals are provided from the aircraft to the missile launcher by means of the ATAS adapter cable. Reference TM 9-1440-431 series and TM 55-1520-248 series publications for additional information regarding the ATAS missile system.
Air-to-Air Stinger Missile Launcher line drawing
OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed with ATAS missile system
Umbilical Weapon Harnesses (Weapons Electrical Cables)

AGM-1148 HELLFIRE MISSILE SUBSYSTEM *

The Hellfire is a laser guided modular anti-armor ground or airborne launched missile. The system is provided with a fire-and-forget capability. Guidance is provided through automatic terminal homing on the target which has been externally designated from ground, or airborne designators. In addition the Hellfire can be fired and guided autonomously through the laser designator in the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS). The system consists of a Remote Hellfire Electronics (RHE) and Hellfire missile. The RHE unit is located in the left side avionics compartment on the aft shelf. The RHE is a standard Apache remote Hellfire unit that has been integrated into the Control Display Unit. The RHE processes data from the Integrated System Processor/Control Display Unit (ISP/CDU) to encode and select the mode of missile system as setup by the crew. It also processes data from the missiles, both selected and not selected, to the ISP/CDU for action and/or display.
OH-58D Kiowa Warrior with Hellfire missile system Source US Army AMCOM
OH-58D Kiowa Warrior firing Hellfire missile

The pilot is provided with controls and information needed for missile launching. Missile status, steering data, display of helicopter orientation for missile launching, missile selection, laser coding, and the pylon mounted launcher is controlled by the Co-Pilot Observer. The system is capable of mounting two launchers on each Universal Weapons Pylon. Each launcher is capable of mounting and launching two missiles.
Hellfire Missile Launcher mounted on universal weapons pylon
Two-Rail Hellfire Missile Launcher

The Hellfire missile consists of four sections; seeker, warhead, propulsion, and control. Reference TM 9-1425-475 series publications for additional information regarding testing, maintenance, and repair of the AGM-1148 Hellfire missile system.
Hellfire Missile line drawing

AGM-114 Hellfire II*

The Hellfire II missile provides heavy anti-armor capability for attack helicopters. Hellfire II is the latest production version of the Laser Hellfire missile. Laser Hellfire presently is used as the main armament of the U.S. Army's AH-64 Apache and U.S. Marine Corps's AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters. The laser missile homes on a laser spot that can be projected from ground observers, other aircraft, or the launching aircraft itself. This enables the system to be employed in a variety of modes: autonomous, air or ground, direct or indirect, single shot, rapid, or ripple fire. Hellfire II and Longbow Hellfire missiles are complementary. The combination of Hellfire II's precision guidance and Longbow Hellfire's fire-and-forget capability will provide the battlefield commander flexibility across a wide range of mission scenarios, permitting fast battlefield response and high mobility not afforded by other anti-armor weapons.

Hellfire II incorporates many improvements over the Interim Hellfire missile, including solving the laser obscurant/backscatter problem, the only shortcoming identified during Operation Desert Storm. Other improvements include electro-optical countermeasure hardening, improved target reacquisition capability, an advanced technology warhead system capable of defeating reactive armor configurations projected into the 21st century, reprogrammability to adapt to changing threats and mission requirements, and shipboard compatibility.

The AGM-114A tactical missile is the originally designed Hellfire missile, which is no longer purchased by the Army. AGM-114As in the inventory are released for live-fire training when they are replaced with AGM-114Cs.

The AGM-114B, although primarily designed for Navy use, can be fired from Army aircraft. This missile has an additional electronic arm/safety device required for shipboard use.

The AGM-114C missile has an improved semiactive laser seeker with an improved low visibility capability. The AGM-114C has a low smoke motor and a lower trajectory than the 114A. Army missiles should be marked with either the A or C designation just behind the seeker.

The AGM-114F missile features two warheads, a seeker and an autopilot similar to the C-model missile. The 114F is designed to defeat vehicles equipped with reactive armor.

The AGM-114K missile features dual warheads for defeating reactive armor, electro-optical countermeasures hardening, semiactive laser seeker, and a programmable autopilot for trajectory shaping. The AGM-114K missile is capable of operating with either pulsed radar frequency or A-Code laser codes for those aircraft equipped with dual code capability.

For antiarmor roles, the AGM-114 missile has a conical shaped charge warhead with a copper liner cone that forms the jet that provides armor penetration. This high explosive, antitank warhead is effective against various types of armor including appliqué and reactive. Actual penetration performance is classified. It can also be employed against concrete bunkers and similar fortifications.

The tactical missiles are propelled by a single stage, single thrust, solid propellant motor. When thrust exceeds 500 to 600 pounds, the missile leaves the rail. Based on a 10g acceleration parameter, arming occurs between 150 to 300 meters after launch. Maximum velocity of the missile is 950 miles per hour. Maximum standoff range is a function of missile performance, launch platform altitude versus target altitude, visibility and cloud cover. Remote designation allows the launch aircraft to stand off at greater distances from the target. This standoff range can be out to the maximum missile effective engagement range.