Ukraine Confirms Hellfire Use On Trucks

Ukrainian forces have integrated laser-guided American Hellfire missiles onto ground vehicles for air defense purposes.

Yurii Ihnat, head of the Air Force Command's communications department, confirmed the deployment during an interview on the RBC-Ukraine podcast TSE BAZA. He stated that the military uses a mix of systems depending on the operational area, specifically mentioning "FrankenSAM systems" alongside the new vehicle-mounted platforms.

The AGM-114 Hellfire is a family of guided missiles developed by the United States to target armored vehicles, air defense systems, and patrol boats. Manufacturer Lockheed Martin notes that the Hellfire II variant uses semi-active laser homing and can be launched from helicopters, aircraft, ground vehicles, and vessels. Ihnat did not specify the exact vehicle models used, the total number of platforms in service, or the specific missile modifications deployed.

Defense assets are positioned to minimize friendly fire incidents, with aviation operating in zones where ground-based air defense is inactive. Near cities and key infrastructure, teams deploy man-portable air defense systems and other ground assets. Ihnat added that electronic warfare equipment often jams Russian aerial targets because not all enemy systems have adequate protection or antennas.

Ukrainian forces previously reported downing 21 Russian Shahed drones in January 2026 using American Tempest mobile surface-to-air missile systems. Those vehicles were equipped with two AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles each. Ihnat also noted that soldiers have occasionally used assault rifles to shoot down drones, though such instances are rare.