Hellfire is a low-collateral damage, precision air-to-ground missile with semi-active laser guidance for use against light armor and personnel.
Missiles are used on the MQ-9 Reaper. AFSOC dropped previous plans to integrate the weapons onto its AC-130W gunships in favor of the Small Glide Munition.
Hellfire is procured through the Army, and numerous variants are utilized based on overseas contingency demands. An MQ-1 Predator employed Hellfire in combat for the first time in Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001.
The latest AGM-114R replaces several types with a single, multitarget weapon, and USAF is also buying variable Height-of-Burst (HOB) kits to enhance lethality.
The next-generation Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) is also procured via the Army, and adds a new multimode guidance section to the AGM-114R. JAGM is used against high-value moving or stationary targets in all weather. FY21 funds 2,497 Hellfire/JAGM via a common production contract.
Contractors: Lockheed Martin (missile body); Northrop Grumman (propulsion).
First Flight: Feb. 16, 2000 (USAF).
Delivered: March 2016-present
IOC: N/A.
Active Variants: •AGM-114. Numerous subvariants, depending on target and mission requirements. •AGM-169. JAGM, incorporating a multimode seeker on the advanced AGM-114R.
Dimensions: Span 28 in, length 5.33 ft, diameter 17 in.
Propulsion: Solid-propellant rocket motor.
Performance: Subsonic, range 5+ miles.
Guidance: EO TV guidance system (B/H/K); IIR seeker (D/G); laser seeker (E).
Warhead: Shaped charge and blast fragmentation.
Integration: MQ-9.