Hera missile

Infobox Weapon
name= Hera


caption=
origin= United States
type= Surface-to-surface guided missile
is_missile=yes
service=
used_by= United States
wars=
designer= Coleman Aerospace
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=
number=
variants=
spec_label=
weight= Convert|11300|kg|lb|0
length= convert|11.9|m|ft|1
part_length=
width=
height=
diameter=convert|1.32|m|ft|1 (first stage)
crew=
range= convert|1100|km|mi|0
yield=
engine=First stage: Aerojet General SR19-AJ-1 solid-fuel rocket; 268 kN (60,300 lbf)
2nd stage: Hercules M57A1 solid-fuel rocket; 156 kN (35,000 lbf)
speed=
guidance=
vehicle_range=
boost=
speed=
steering=
accuracy=
launch_platform=
transport=

Hera is a target missile for development testing of missile defense systems such as THAAD and Patriot PAC-3. In 1992, the US Army Space and Strategic Defense Command awarded the Theater Missile Defense (TMD) Targets contract to Coleman Aerospacewith Space Vector and Aerotherm as sub-contractors. Coleman developed Hera using the second and third stages of the Minuteman II and the guidance section of the Pershing II. The Rocket Systems Launch Program at Detachment 12, USAF Space and Missile Systems Center, provided technical program management services involved with removing the liquid injection thrust vector control system from the retired MMII second stages in favor of a flex-seal system enabling robust flight control from launch to burn out. First launch was on 24 April 1995 at White Sands Missile Range. Because of its range, Russia claims Hera qualifies as an IRBM and hence violates Item 1, Article 6 of the INF Treaty.Fact|date=September 2008

Hera is also used in the Air Force Sounding Rocket Program.

References

* [http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/plv.html Designation Systems: Coleman Hera]
* [http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/hera.htm Astronautix: Hera]
* [http://www.armscontrol.ru/start/exclusive/gkk1120.htm Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies: The Use of "Hera" Missile Violates the INF Treaty]
* [http://english1.people.com.cn/english/200011/16/eng20001116_55316.html People's Daily: Russia Urges US to End "Hera" Ballistic Missile Development]
* [http://www.ng.ru/politics/2000-11-17/1_pershing.html Washington Reanimates "Pershings"] (in Russian)

ee also

*Hera, the Greek goddess