Are Hellfire missiles explosive?
Mia Kelly
Published Jan 23, 2026
The Hellfire R9X is a Hellfire variant with a kinetic warhead with pop-out blades instead of explosives, used against specific human targets; its lethality is due to 45 kg (100 lb) of dense material with six blades flying at high speed, to crush and slice the targeted person—it has been called the Ninja bomb and the ...
How good is the Hellfire missile?
It was and is extremely effective against all types of armored ground vehicles. There are several sub-variants in this category. The most well-known type of Hellfire is anti-personnel. The situations surrounding the Hellfire has led to intense political debate of drone strikes used in the Middle East.
How much TNT is in a Hellfire missile?
Dalnoki-Veress estimated the equivalent of about 22 pounds of TNT detonated in the strike. The explosive material in the Hellfire used in the strike was 20 pounds, the defense official said.
What can a Hellfire missile do?
Hellfire can be used as an air-to-air or an air-to-ground missile. The Air-to-Ground (AGM)-114 provides precision striking power against tanks, structures, bunkers and helicopters. The Hellfire missile is capable of defeating any known tank in the world today.
What is the blast radius of a Hellfire missile?
Chamayou reports that the Hellfire missile has a 'kill radius' of 50 feet (15 metres) and a 'wounding radius' of 65 feet (20 metres); the GBU-12 Paveway II has a 'casualty radius' of between 200 and 300 feet (within which 50 per cent of people will be killed).
20 related questions foundWho manufactures Hellfire?
August 28/17: Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $547.9 million US Army contract for the production and delivery of Hellfire II air-to-ground attack missiles.
How many Hellfire missiles can an Apache hold?
An 18-aircraft Apache battalion can carry 288 Hellfire missiles, each capable of destroying a tank.
What does Hellfire mean?
Definition of hellfire
: the eternal fire of hell that tortures sinners.
How much do Hellfire missiles weigh?
Hellfire II Missile Specifications and Application Platforms
AGM-114L Hellfire Longbow has a range of 8,000 meters and have fire-and-forget capability. It is using Millimeter-Wave (MMW) radar seeker and can operate in adverse weather conditions with battlefield obscurants. It weighs 108 lb and measures 71 inches.
Who made the Hellfire missile?
The AGM-114 Hellfire missiles are manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Credit: USAASC. The AGM-114 Hellfire II is an air-to-ground missile developed primarily for the anti-armour role. It is a combat-proven tactical missile system using multiple launch platforms based on air, sea and ground.
How many Hellfire missiles can a reaper hold?
Armament/Weapons:
The MQ-9 Reaper carries a broader range of ordnance and can be equipped with up to four Hellfire missiles + two GBU-12 Paveway II Laser-Guided Bombs or two 500-pound GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). On the Reaper, Hellfire missiles are carried on stations 2 and 6 (middle wing stations).
What is the best anti tank missile?
Currently Top 10 man-portable anti-tank guided missiles in the the world are these:
- Nr.1 MMP (France) ...
- Nr.2 OMTAS (Turkey) ...
- Nr.3 Spike LR2 (Israel) ...
- Nr.4 Javelin (United States) ...
- Nr.5 HJ-12 (China) ...
- Nr.6 MAPATS (Israel) ...
- Nr.7 Shershen (Belarus) ...
- Nr.8 Kornet-M (Russia)
Can a Javelin hit a moving tank?
Though the Javelin's tandem HEAT warhead has proven efficient at destroying tanks, most threats it was employed against in Iraq and Afghanistan were weapon crews and teams, buildings, and lightly armored and unarmored vehicles.
Where are hellfire missiles made?
The missiles would be produced at Lockheed Martin facilities in Orlando, Florida, and the process would be completed by September 30, 2024. This will further replenish the US Army's lethal capabilities. This Hellfire II missile is an upgrade from its predecessors and is speculated to be the AGM-114R variant.
Where does the term Hellfire come from?
hellfire (n.) also hell-fire, "the fire of Hell, eternal torment," from Old English hellefyr, in which helle is the genitive case of hell. It translates Greek gehenna tou pyros, literally "hell of fire." Also used in Middle English for "erysipelas" (mid-15c.).
What is the hellfire in GTA?
The Bravado Gauntlet Hellfire is a muscle car featured in Grand Theft Auto Online as part of the continuation of The Diamond Casino & Resort update, released on September 5, 2019, during the Gauntlet Hellfire Week event.
Is Hellfire missile guided?
The AGM-114 Hellfire is a family of 100 lbs class laser guided missiles for use against fixed and moving targets by both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft including UAVs. In 1974, the development of the Hellfire missile began with the U.S. Army's requirement for an anti-armor, helicopter launched, air-to-ground missile.
What is the Ninja bomb?
The weapon, conceived during the Barack Obama-era to reduce collateral damage, does not contain an explosive warhead, instead releasing six razor-sharp, sword-length blades prior to impact to ensure maximum damage to the target without posing the same degree of threat to bystanders.
Are Apache helicopters bulletproof?
The Apache is heavily armored on all sides. ... The cockpit is protected by layers of reinforced armor and bulletproof glass. According to Boeing, every part of the helicopter can survive 12.7-mm rounds, and vital engine and rotor components can withstand 23-mm fire.
What is the deadliest helicopter in the world?
The new aircraft is described as being faster, deadlier and more connected to the modern battlefield. (Picture: PA/Alamy). Fifty have been ordered and the rest are due to arrive by the summer of 2024.
Do Apache pilots carry guns?
The Apache attack helicopter can operate in all weathers, day or night and detect, classify and prioritise up to 256 potential targets in a matter of seconds. It carries a mix of weapons including rockets, Hellfire missiles and a 30mm chain gun.
What does UAV stand for?
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), military aircraft that is guided autonomously, by remote control, or both and that carries sensors, target designators, offensive ordnance, or electronic transmitters designed to interfere with or destroy enemy targets.
What missiles do US drones carry?
The MQ-9 carries a variety of weapons including the GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb, the AGM-114 Hellfire II air-to-ground missiles, the AIM-9 Sidewinder, and the GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM).