Ukraine confirms truck-mounted Hellfire missiles for drone defense
Air Force communications chief says laser-guided US missiles are now active on ground vehicles to counter Russian aerial threats near key infrastructure.
By Andrew Foster ·
Ukrainian air defense units are now operating ground vehicles armed with laser-guided American Hellfire missiles. Yurii Ihnat, head of the communications department for the Air Force Command, confirmed the deployment during an interview on the RBC-Ukraine podcast TSE BAZA.
Ihnat stated that military commanders select countermeasures based on the specific operational area. He noted that aviation units operate in zones where ground-based systems are inactive to prevent friendly fire. Conversely, teams equipped with man-portable air defense systems and other ground assets are positioned closer to cities and critical infrastructure.
"We have different systems, the FrankenSAM systems and there are vehicles with laser-guided Hellfire missiles," Ihnat said. He did not specify the exact vehicle models, the total number in inventory, or the specific missile variants used.
The AGM-114 Hellfire is a US-guided missile designed to strike armored vehicles, air defense systems, and patrol boats. Manufacturer Lockheed Martin states that the Hellfire II model uses semi-active laser homing and can launch from helicopters, aircraft, ground vehicles, and vessels. Ihnat also mentioned that electronic warfare equipment jams Russian aerial assets, and that infantry have occasionally downed drones using assault rifles.
In January 2026, Ukrainian soldiers reported destroying 21 Russian Shahed drones using mobile surface-to-air missile systems equipped with two AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles each.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
