Anti-Tank Missile
AGM-114 Hellfire
The AGM-114 Hellfire is an American air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missile built by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, in service since 1984 on the AH-64 Apache. Originally an anti-tank weapon, it is now used by more than 30 countries, mainly from helicopters and drones.
United States|Lockheed Martin & BoeingWhat Is the AGM-114 Hellfire? Overview, History and Development
Development began in 1974 at Rockwell, and the name comes from Helicopter Launched Fire-and-Forget. Hellfire entered service in 1984 on the AH-64 Apache. The missile is about 1.63 m long and 178 mm in diameter and weighs 45 to 49 kg. It flies at about Mach 1.3 with a range of roughly 0.5 to 11 km depending on variant and launch platform. Guidance is semi-active laser for the K, N, P and R models, or millimetre-wave radar fire-and-forget for the AGM-114L Longbow.
Warheads include a tandem shaped charge (K), blast-fragmentation (M), thermobaric (N) and the multi-purpose Romeo (R), while the R9X uses a blade kinetic warhead. Platforms include the Apache, MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, AH-1Z, MH-60R and ground launchers. US budget documents suggest roughly $100,000 to $150,000 per missile depending on variant. Hellfire has been used since the 1991 Gulf War, in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. JAGM is the planned replacement. Rivals include Brimstone, Spike NLOS and MAM-L.
AGM-114 Hellfire Specifications: Range, Speed, Warhead and Guidance
AGM-114 Hellfire Variants and Versions Compared
AGM-114K is the laser-guided Hellfire II with a tandem shaped-charge warhead.
AGM-114R is the multi-purpose Romeo version with a range of up to 11 km.
AGM-114L Longbow is the radar-guided fire-and-forget version used on the AH-64D Apache.
Which Countries Use the AGM-114 Hellfire? Operators and Users
United States
United Kingdom
Australia
Canada
Netherlands
France
Italy
Japan
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Egypt
Jordan
Kuwait
Qatar
Taiwan
South Korea
India
Poland
Spain
GreeceAGM-114 Hellfire FAQ: Price, Range, Operators and Most Asked Questions
How much does a Hellfire missile cost?
An AGM-114 Hellfire costs roughly $100,000 to $150,000 per missile depending on variant and year, according to US DoD procurement data. Figures vary and are estimates.
What is the range of the AGM-114 Hellfire?
The AGM-114 Hellfire has a range of about 8 to 11 km depending on variant and launch platform, with the AGM-114R reaching up to 11 km. Minimum range is about 0.5 km.
How fast is the Hellfire missile?
The AGM-114 Hellfire flies at about Mach 1.3. It weighs 45 to 49 kg depending on variant and is about 1.63 m long.
Which countries use the Hellfire missile?
More than 30 countries use the AGM-114 Hellfire, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India and Poland. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar also operate it.
What is the R9X Hellfire?
The R9X Hellfire, nicknamed the Ninja, is an AGM-114 variant with a kinetic blade warhead instead of an explosive one. It is used for precision strikes that limit collateral damage.
Hellfire vs Brimstone: what is the difference?
The AGM-114 Hellfire is a US missile with laser or radar guidance and a range of up to 11 km, while the British Brimstone uses a 94 GHz radar seeker and reaches more than 60 km in Brimstone 2. Both are fire-and-forget class weapons.