AGM-114 Hellfire family

[TomS]

Hellfire Missile Launcher Disguised As Civilian Truck Breaks Cover In Taiwan​

Hellfire Missile Launcher Disguised As Civilian Truck Breaks Cover In Taiwan

Concealed launchers offer new flexibility for Taiwan, which currently only fires Hellfires from helicopters, especially when it comes to shore defense.

www.twz.com

Think we've already seen this with Brimstone in Ukraine.

This looks to be a somewhat more sophisticated implementation

 

[DWG]

This looks to be a somewhat more sophisticated implementation

Possibly overly so? They've effectively got an attack helicopter's worth of systems in the back of a road-limited truck. Maybe better to go with something like the 6x6 Wolfram, or just the Ukrainian solution of a triple launcher hung in the back of a 4x4. Keep some cross-country mobility and keep any sensor/designator independent of the vehicle, whether that be through a C2 net, drones, someone on the ground with a designator, or just a tablet typing in the target grid for the MMW versions.

 

[TomS]

Possibly overly so? They've effectively got an attack helicopter's worth of systems in the back of a road-limited truck. Maybe better to go with something like the 6x6 Wolfram, or just the Ukrainian solution of a triple launcher hung in the back of a 4x4. Keep some cross-country mobility and keep any sensor/designator independent of the vehicle, whether that be through a C2 net, drones, someone on the ground with a designator, or just a tablet typing in the target grid for the MMW versions.

They are trying to blend in with commercial vehicles, so I can see the box truck being a useful cover.

It might also be more proof of concept than final design.

 

[DWG]

They are trying to blend in with commercial vehicles, so I can see the box truck being a useful cover.

Pre-invasion, maybe, especially if plastered with common commercial liveries, but once the amphibs roll over the horizon, every civilian vehicle will be in a traffic jam headed away from the Strait, so I'm not convinced the logic works.

If they are fixated on the box truck, I wonder if the VLS approach from the LCS Hellfire modules might not be better. Load the entire thing with MMW Hellfire and just flush the whole array for a one vehicle swarm attack.

 

[TomS]

Pre-invasion, maybe, especially if plastered with common commercial liveries, but once the amphibs roll over the horizon, every civilian vehicle will be in a traffic jam headed away from the Strait, so I'm not convinced the logic works.

You might have a ton of commercial vehicles just parked in the yards of their businesses, with the employees evacuating with their families in POVs.

If they are fixated on the box truck, I wonder if the VLS approach from the LCS Hellfire modules might not be better. Load the entire thing with MMW Hellfire and just flush the whole array for a one vehicle swarm attack.

Something to be said for that. You would have to have a big sliding roof given the janky way the LCS modules work (they're just stock helicopter launch rails bolted onto bulkheads). But it isn't a terrible idea. Downsides are that VL eats up some range and the launch signature would be very pronounced as the missiles pop much higher than an angled launch.

 

[DWG]

You would have to have a big sliding roof

It worked for the Ukrainians

given the janky way the LCS modules work (they're just stock helicopter launch rails bolted onto bulkheads).

*Facepalm*

 

[NMaude]

Defense Updates has put out a video about this new Taiwanese Hellfire II launch truck:

A compelling concept has been revealed in Taiwan. Taiwan’s armed forces have unveiled a concealed launch system for AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, disguised within what appears to be a standard civilian truck. According to Taiwanese officials, this truck-mounted system provides a flexible new way to employ Hellfires, particularly valuable if its airborne platforms - AH-1W SuperCobra and AH-64E Apache attack helicopters are constrained by heavy air defense threats.​

Its mobility and low visual profile make it harder to detect, offering a potent option for strengthening coastal defenses against a potential Chinese amphibious assault.The system was featured in a newly released video from the Military News Agency, the official media arm of Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND). Development of the launcher was carried out by the MND’s Armaments Bureau, specifically the 209th Arsenal.​

In this video, Defense Updates analyzes why Taiwanese concealed Hellfire launcher would be nasty surprise for China?
#defenseupdates #taiwanchinawar #taiwanvschina

Chapters:
0:00 TITLE
00:11 INTRODUCTION
01:22 SPONSORSHIP - NordVPN
01:32 NEED
02:30 CONFIGURATION
03:55 HELLFIRE FOR TAIWAN
06:00 ANALYSIS

 

[Grey Havoc]

Lockheed launches Hellfire missile from 10-foot cargo container

The U.S. defense giant successfully launched a Hellfire missile from its containerized Grizzly launcher.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Forest Green]

Navy Rushing To Arm Carrier Strike Groups With Hellfire Missiles​

Navy Rushing To Arm Carrier Strike Groups With Hellfire Missiles

The Navy is pushing more counter-drone hard-kill capabilities to its fleet as it comes to terms with the growing threat of one-way attack drones.

www.twz.com