Israel has requested to purchase 3,000 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles in various configurations. The deal also includes testing equipment, software support, spare parts, and engineering assistance, ensuring full operational integration within the Israeli Air Force.
Deliveries are expected to begin in 2028, reinforcing Israel’s long-term defence capabilities. The U.S. government emphasised that the sale aligns with its commitment to strengthening Israel’s security and maintaining regional stability.
The Hellfire missile system is a precision-strike weapon primarily used for targeting armoured vehicles, bunkers, and enemy positions. By acquiring these missiles, Israel aims to enhance its ability to defend critical infrastructure, borders, and population centres from potential threats.
U.S. officials stated that the sale would not disrupt the existing military balance in the region. The deal will also improve interoperability between Israeli and U.S. forces, highlighting continued military cooperation between the two allies.
According to Lockheed Martin,the Hellfire is a precision-strike, semi-active laser (SAL) guided missile, designed to engage a wide variety of targets with high accuracy. It is known for its multi-mission, multi-target capability, allowing field commanders to engage armoured vehicles, air defence systems, patrol boats, enemy combatants in buildings, and even threats in open areas or caves.
The AGM-114R variant consolidates previous Hellfire II models into a single, versatile missile, featuring a multi-purpose warhead that eliminates the need for multiple warhead types. This capability enables pilots to handle diverse combat scenarios with a single Hellfire loadout, improving operational flexibility.
Hellfire can be deployed from rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, ground vehicles, and boats, enhancing its adaptability across different military platforms. It supports lock-on before launch (LOBL) and lock-on after launch (LOAL) modes, allowing pilots to fire at targets from multiple angles, including behind or to the side of their position, increasing platform survivability.
