The 'Apache's Supersonic Air-to-Ground Missile' Precisely Targeting North Korean Armored Vehicles

[Monthly Defense Times Editor-in-Chief An Seung-beom] The AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missile, the main armament of the Apache Guardian attack helicopter, has been in service since 1984 and was first used in Panama. Since then, it has been deployed in various battlefields including Iraq and Afghanistan.

It has been adopted and operated by 29 countries including the United States, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Israel, Japan, Indonesia, and Taiwan.

The platforms equipped with this missile have diversified to include the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, AH-1Z attack helicopter, MH-60R maritime operation helicopter, EC665 Tiger attack helicopter (Australia), KC-130J Harvest Hawk transport aircraft, AC-130W gunship, and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned attack aircraft.

The guidance methods include the SALH (Semi-Active Laser Homing) version (A/F/K/M/N/R types) such as the AGM-114R introduced by the South Korean Army, and the SARH (Semi-Active Radar Homing) version (L type) guided by millimeter-wave radar (AN/APG-78).

Although the Hellfire missile is a high-performance anti-tank missile designed to strike enemy armored vehicles, recently it has also been used as an anti-ship missile targeting small maritime targets such as fast boats and landing crafts, as well as guided munitions for destroying reinforced fortifications.

The warhead types have also diversified, including tandem warheads for anti-tank use (F type, K type), shaped charge warheads (A type), high-explosive warheads for anti-personnel use (L type), blast-fragmentation warheads for striking bunkers and cave fortifications (M type), and thermobaric warheads (N type).

The South Korean military’s acquisition of the AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter included the Romeo type (AGM-114R). Since the AGM-114R is a laser-guided SALH (Semi Active Laser Homing) missile, the AH-64E must continuously designate the target with the M-TADS laser designator from firing until impact.

In contrast, the AGM-114L is guided by a narrow millimeter-wave continuous wave beam emitted from the AN/APG-78 radar capable of 360-degree scanning, allowing the Apache helicopter to perform fire-and-forget by disengaging after firing while the missile continues guidance.

However, the AGM-114 is a supersonic air-to-ground missile flying at a speed of 1,601 km/h (Mach 1.3) with a maximum range of 8 km, reaching the target in less than 18 seconds, so the platform’s M-TADS target designation time after launch is short.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.