Jump to content

Hermes (missile)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hermes
TypeAir-to-surface
Surface-to-surface
Land-attack
Anti-tank guided missile
Surface-to-air
Place of originRussia
Production history
ManufacturerKBP Instrument Design Bureau[1]
Specifications
Mass110 kg (missile + container, 170 mm booster stage)[2]
130 kg (missile + container, 210 mm booster stage)[2]
Length3500 mm (container)[2]
Diameterbooster stage, 170/210 mm;[2]
sustainer stage, 130 mm[2]

EngineSolid-fuel rocket
Operational
range
15-20 km (170 mm booster stage)[2]
100 km (210 mm booster stage)[2]
Maximum speed 1000 m/s (170 mm booster stage)[2]
1300 m/s (210 mm booster stage)[2]
Guidance
system
target area: radio-command guidance, terminal path: semi-active laser guidance
Launch
platform
Rotary and fixed-wing platforms, ships, and ground vehicles

Hermes (Russian: Гермес)[3] is a family of modularly designed guided missiles developed in Russia by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau.

The Hermes missile can be used from air, ground or naval launchers.

Development

[edit]

Development of the Hermes by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau started in the 1990s. The missile bears a striking resemblance to the 57E6 used by the Pantsir missile system, and it is probably a derivative of this model. The Hermes-A variant was trialed in 2003. The series production of the Hermes was meant to start in 2011-2012, but this did not happen, as the development process was stopped for several years.[2] In 2016, it was announced that the Hermes missile would be tested in live conditions in Syria.[3] However, nothing indicates that this actually happened. But in the late 2010s, a series of announcements signaled a renewed interest in the missile, following experience from the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war showing the need for more high-precision armaments.[2]

Description

[edit]

The Hermes system features a multistage rocket missile with a high-powered booster. Two booster diameters are available, 170 and 210 mm. It uses inertial and/or radio-command guidance for the cruise phase, and semi-active laser guidance for the terminal phase. Radar and infrared homing are also talked about. The Hermes is designed to engage a great variety of targets, including armoured vehicles, fortifications of various types, small naval surface targets, artillery positions, slow-flying air targets, and others.[2] It can be fired single or in volleys at ranges of up to 100 km and can track and destroy over-the-horizon targets.[4]

Characteristics

[edit]
  • Warhead: 27.5 kg[2]
  • Explosive: 13 kg[2]
  • Guidance: Inertial and/or radio-command guidance (cruise phase), semi-active laser homing (terminal). Possible infrared and radar homing[2]

Variants

[edit]
  • Hermes-A: Air-launched version.[5][6] To be used by the Kamov Ka-52 (up to 16 launchers) and possibly the Sukhoi Su-25. Range between 15 and 20 km.[2]
  • Hermes-K: Naval version.[7] Two types of supports are available: a simpler support with four launchers for lighter naval units, and a modified version of the AK-306 CIWS with four launchers for heavier vessels. The Hermes-K's range can be increased up to 100 km with the use of the 210 mm booster.[2]
  • Hermes-S: Land vehicle version.[8][9] Uses a Kamaz truck chassis, transporting up to 24 missiles. Versions with and without a guidance system for the missiles have been shown in designer drawings. Moreover, a fire-control vehicle with a mast-mounted radar or opto-electronic detection system has also been shown. A coastal defence version is also possible. The Hermes-S's range can be increased to 100 km with the use of the 210 mm booster.[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "HERMES Guided Weapon System". Archived from the original on 4 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "[Actu] Le retour des missiles "Hermes"". Red Samovar. 7 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b Рамм, Алексей (26 October 2016). "Российская армия испытает в Сирии сверхдальнобойные ракеты". iz.ru.
  4. ^ Комплекс управляемого вооружения «ГЕРМЕС» (in Russian). ГУП «Конструкторское бюро приборостроения». Archived from the original on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  5. ^ "HERMES-A Guided Weapon System". KBP Instrument Design Bureau. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021.
  6. ^ "HERMES-A Guided Weapon System". KBP Instrument Design Bureau. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010.
  7. ^ "HERMES-K Guided Weapon System". KBP Instrument Design Bureau. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010.
  8. ^ "HERMES Guided Weapon System". Archived from the original on 10 November 2021.
  9. ^ "HERMES Guided Weapon System". KBP Instrument Design Bureau. Archived from the original on 14 February 2010.