Hermes (missile)

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

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

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

Development

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

The Hermes system features a multistage rocket missile with a high-powered booster. Two booster diameters are available, 170 and 210 mm. It has fire-and-forget capability, and 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

  • 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

  • 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

References

  1. "HERMES Guided Weapon System". Archived from the original on 4 March 2012.
  2. "[Actu] Le retour des missiles "Hermes"". Red Samovar. 7 November 2018.
  3. 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.
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