Missile AGM-114 Hellfire

The AGM-114 Hellfire missile's development commenced in 1974, originating from a United States Army requirement for a helicopter-launched, anti-armor weapon designed to counter armored fighting vehicles. Initially conceived under the name "Heliborne laser, fire-and-forget missile," the colloquial "Hellfire" eventually became its formal designation. Production has been ongoing since 1974, with Lockheed Martin as the primary manufacturer, though Boeing previously served as a second source, and Northrop Grumman provides the seeker for the AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire variant. The Hellfire II, an evolution of the original design, was developed in the early 1990s and entered service with the U.S. Army in 1996. A significant later variant, the AGM-114R "Romeo" Hellfire II, was introduced into service in late 2012. The system was initially developed for anti-armor roles and subsequently adapted for precision strikes against a broader range of targets, including high-value individuals, often deployed from unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Hellfire missile system is characterized by its multi-mission and multi-target precision-strike capability. It can be launched from a diverse array of air, sea, and ground platforms, establishing it as a principal 100-pound class air-to-ground precision weapon for the United States and numerous allied nations. Most variants employ semi-active laser guidance, homing in on a laser spot designated by the launching platform, another airborne asset, or a ground observer; this latter capability allows the launch platform to seek cover after firing. A key variant, the AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire, utilizes a millimeter-wave radar seeker, providing a fire-and-forget capability that can lock onto targets after launch and operate effectively in adverse weather conditions or when battlefield obscurants are present. The missile system can be armed with various warheads, including high-explosive anti-tank, shaped charge, tandem-charge anti-armor, metal augmented charge, and blast fragmentation types. A specialized variant, the AGM-114R-9X, features a kinetic warhead with pop-out blades designed for precise engagement of individual targets with minimized collateral damage. The AGM-114R "Romeo" model incorporates a multipurpose warhead, enabling it to engage target types that previously required distinct Hellfire variants.

Entering service in 1984, the Hellfire has seen extensive operational use in conflicts such as the Gulf War, the War on Terror, and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. It is commonly deployed from rotary-wing aircraft like the AH-64 Apache and AH-1 Cobra, as well as unmanned combat aerial vehicles such as the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. The missile has been instrumental in numerous high-profile targeted strikes against key militant leaders. British forces have also utilized Hellfire missiles, notably the AGM-114N variant from Apache helicopters in Afghanistan. Beyond its primary air-to-surface role, the Hellfire has occasionally been employed as an air-to-air weapon, with documented instances by the Israeli Air Force. The system has been tested or integrated on various ground vehicles, including Humvees and the Stryker (though its use on the M-SHORAD Stryker was later prohibited due to safety concerns), and naval platforms like Littoral Combat Ships and coastal assault boats by Sweden and Norway for coastal defense. The highly specialized AGM-114R-9X variant has been used in targeted operations in Syria, Afghanistan, and against specific al-Qaeda and Kata'ib Hezbollah figures.