The F-35 Lightning II will be able to destroy enemy tanks with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles

By: Maksim Panasovskiy | 16.11.2023, 20:29

The previous day we wrote about the US Navy's plans to arm F-35 Lightning II fighters with LRASM and JASSM missiles. Also the arsenal of the aircraft can be replenished with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

Here's What We Know

Previously, there was never any information about plans to integrate Hellfire anti-tank missiles on the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters. Moreover, the US military has never used the AGM-114 on such high-speed platforms.

Hellfire exists in several versions. The AGM-114L, for example, can perform target acquisition already after launch. The missile is radar-guided, but this will not allow it to be mounted in the internal weapons bay.

It is possible that the F-35 Lightning II will be armed with Hellfire with extended range. We are talking about the AGM-114R-4 version. Last year it was tested by the MQ-9 Reaper drone. The launch range compared to the conventional version has been increased by about three times and exceeds 30 kilometres.

Source: sam.gov