December 17, 2008: There is a new laser
seeking warhead for Hellfire missiles, which has made more difficult shots
possible, and increased the overall success of missiles fired to over 90
percent. The change is simply making the sensor able to spot the reflected
laser light within a 180 degree arc, rather than 40 degrees as before. Not
easy, from a technical point of view, but it's a technique that has worked well
in other missile types.
The way hellfire missiles work, you
have someone (in the air or on the ground using a laser designator) shine a
laser light (think of a tiny, long range, laser spotlight) on the target. The
invisible light bounces off the target, providing a target for the laser seeker
in the front of the Hellfire missile. Thus you have to fire the missile in the
direction of the "illuminated" target, and hope that the seeker picks
up the reflected light. The homing part is easy. Getting the rapidly moving missile
to where its sensor can pick up the reflected laser light, can be tricky. The
new "P" model of the Hellfire laser seeker obviously makes it easier
for all this to happen. This will allow for Hellfires to be fired from higher
altitudes, and even when the aircraft has passed the target area. Users have
already reported increased success because of the new seeker.
