Abstract: To study the damage characteristics of high velocity kinetic energy missiles on armored targets, a scaled-down kinetic energy projectile high velocity damage simulation test platform was constructed based on a 25 mm ballistic gun platform. The experiment obtained the damage morphology of the target and the momentum transfer relationship between projectiles and targets. Based on this, an impact penetration simulation model of the projectile was established. The reliability of the simulation model was verified with experimental results, and the damage characteristics of high velocity kinetic energy missiles and rod projectiles on metal thick targets were analyzed. The influence of the mass ratio of structural components on the impact damage characteristics and momentum transfer results of high velocity kinetic energy missiles was studied. The research results indicate that when rod projectiles impact, the pressure field inside the target exhibits a hemispherical distribution characteristic, and the crater is circular in shape. The collision parts of the shell and the core of the kinetic energy missile correspond to high-pressure areas, and after penetration, the crater is "trumpet-shaped". Under the same velocity, the dimensionless entrance hole diameter and penetration depth of kinetic energy missiles are smaller than those of rod projectiles. When the impact velocity is sufficiently high, both the impact impulse and momentum transfer factor of kinetic energy missiles will be greater than those of rod projectiles. In addition, the mass ratio relationship of internal structural components of kinetic energy missiles has a significant impact on their penetration damage and momentum transfer results. As the mass ratio of the armor-piercing core decreases, the dimensionless penetration depth of kinetic energy missiles at the same velocity decreases, but the dimensionless entrance hole diameter, entrance hole depth and momentum transfer factor all increase.