AGM-114 hellfire missile system and FLIR/LASER test and integration on the H-60 aircraft

The AGM-114 (Air-to-Ground Missile) Hellfire Missile System (HMS) and a nose mounted forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor with LASER designator system were selected as integration candidates on U.S. Navy H-60 derivatives. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Patuxent River conducted ground and flight tests to structurally qualify the HMS and FLIR systems and evaluate their integration into the H-60 airframe. Testing demonstrated successful structural integration of the HMS and FLIR/LASER systems. Testing proceeded with integration of the functional FLIR/LASER and the HMS. Integration and testing utilized specialized U.S. Army Hellfire instrumentation as well as the LASER designator weapons system simulator (LDWSS) modeling tool. LDWSS was used to simulate launch conditions and engagement scenarios, predict missile launch transients and trajectories, and identify launch constraint and LASER self-designation issues. The simulation tools and test methods employed minimized test flights and required assets, resulting in an efficient certification of this weapon system.