Hera missile

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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 Aerospace with 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 removng 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.

Because of the range, Russia claims Hera qualifies as an IRBM and violates Item 1, Article 6 of the INF Treaty.

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

[edit] Specifications

Length: 11.9 m (39 ft)
Diameter: 1.32 m (4 ft 4 in) (1st stage)
Weight: 11,300 kg (25,000 lb)
Altitude: 300 km (185 mi)
Range: about 1,100 km (740 mi)
Propulsion:
- 1st 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)
First launch: 24 April 1995, White Sands Missile Range